Nascent Malawi mobile operator targets rural areas

Malawi’s latest mobile operator, Celcom, which is also the country’s fourth player, has outlined plans to invest US$270 million in deploying its network infrastructure, and will specifically target rural markets.

The company – which is owned by local businessmen, the Mulli brothers – was granted its licence earlier this month after repeated attempts to have the third mobile licence holder, G-Mobile launch its services.

One of the Mulli brothers was quoted as saying that the new company has invested approximately K41 billion (US$270 million) to deploy its network, with a launch expected by October 2011. Nationwide coverage is expected by 2014.

Malawi had fewer than 2.6 million customers at the end of 2010, which represents a population penetration level of around 16 per cent. The country has two active mobile networks, Zain and Telecom Networks Malawi.