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From: David Lush <dlush@INGRID.MISA.ORG.NA> To: AFRIK-IT@LISTSERV.HEA.IE Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 09:58:55 +0100 >ACTION ALERT - MALAWI > >JUNE 24, 1997 > >STATE CLAIMS MONOPOLY OF INTERNET SERVICES > >The Malawi government has turned down applications from private Internet >Service Providers (ISP) and instead granted one to its own Malawi Post and >Telecommunications Corporation (MPTC). Government said its action is >intended to keep internet prices affordable but the private ISP's fear >government is creating an information monopoly to serve its interests. > >In a joint venture effort between MPTC and an American investor, Comnet, >the MPTC intends to establish a company yet to be named but which will be >operational later next month. The MPTC is already in control of all >telecommunications services in Malawi on which internet depends. It will >also continue to be in charge of the allocation of internet service >licenses on behalf of government as well as provide competition to those it >licenses. > >Private internet service providers fear MPTC will use its position to >control the market and award licenses only to providers less likely to >offer it meaningful challenge. They complain for instance, they did not >know that the frustrations and delays in having their applications >processed was because the MPTC was itself interested in setting up a >service provider. The MPTC, the private providers say, has also been >holding back some information needed by the applicants. The applicants have >not even been advised on why they have not been successful. > >Partner of Epsilon and Omega, an E-mail Service Provider, Thandi Mbvundula, >told MISA on June 20 that the MPTC announcement "surprised" many. >Mbvundula, said for some time now the MPTC has been delaying the opening up >of the Internet Service market to willing providers and projects such as >the Sustainable Development Network Programme (SDNP), a United Nations >Development Programme (UNDP) project. > >UNDP's Programme Officer, Brian Christensen, told MISA June 24, that his >organisation applied for the Internet licence in August, 1995, but has to >this day not received any reply. Christensen said other private >organisations which had applied have similarly not obtained their licences. >One owner of a service provider, afraid to be named, told MISA June 24, >"MPTC will probably not say no to applications, but they may not just >process applications for the channels." > >Speaking to MISA on June 24, MPTC newly appointed chief executive, Michael >Makawa, however dispelled concerns that MPTC was creating a monopoly >pointing at already existing private Internet services. Currently, Malawi >has five e-mail and Internet service providers, namely; Epsilon and Omega, >University of Malawi (UNIMA), Inter Access, Telecom Consulting - all dial >out through South Africa at what they describe as "prohibitive costs." >"Their fear is therefore unfounded," Makawa said. > >Makawa further explained that the government has appointed an independent >regulatory unit to oversee the activities of posts and telecommunications >in the country. Its purpose, Makawa said, was to ensure fair play in the >telecommunications market "and avoid restrictions on applicants... To me, >this regulatory unit means that we will have competition in the market as >it will allow other players." >ends > >David Nthengwe >Researcher >Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) >Private Bag 13386 >Windhoek, Namibia >Tel. +264 61 232975, Fax. 248016 >e-mail: research@ingrid.misa.org.na > David Lush Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia Tel. +264 61 232975, Fax. 248016 e-mail: dlush@ingrid.misa.org.na
