telecommunications — english language news service
19.05.2008« [telecommunications — телекоммуникация — telekommunikation]
malawi — macra advertises fourth gsm licence
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has started advertising for a fourth mobile phone operator, even though a licence for the third cellco has still not been allocated. The country currently has two operational cellcos, Celtel Malawi and Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), and advertised for a third in March 2007. Eleven companies obtained bidding documents of which five submitted applications. The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Patricia Kaliati, is quoted as saying that the country needs more competition to drive down prices and improve rural coverage, adding that the two outstanding concessions would both be granted once a new board is elected to manage the regulator. Local reports indicate that South Africa-based Econet Wireless and US-owned Millennium Global Telecom are the favourites to bag the licences.
Source: TeleGeography's CommsUpdate
econet wireless
Econet Wireless Holdings Limited (EWHL) is the holding company of several businesses involved in the cellular network operations, provision of Internet access and transaction processing services. Econet Wireless (Private) Limited is the Company's cellular network operator and main subsidiary, with a subscriber base of 634,414 at February 28, 2007. YourFone is the EWHL's community phone service operator with a presence in various cities, as well as commercial agricultural centers. YourFone enables access to telephony for those who do not own a cellular handset. Through Data Control and Systems (1996) (Pvt) Ltd., EWHL provides Internet service and serves corporate and individual dial-up customers. It also provides financial transaction switching, point-of-sale and value-added services through Transaction Processing Systems (Pvt) Ltd. EWHL invests in various companies, including Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited, a diversified financial services group with local and regional operations.
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