MACRA looks to spectrum reallocation

INTERNET

By Gregory Gondwe, Blantyre, Malawi

The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for conducting a spectrum audit and re-farming in Malawi.

The authority says this comes since the Government of Malawi places high emphasis on ICT services as one of its key agendas for national development.

“One of the key factors to the development of ICT industry is the efficient utilization of the spectrum resources,” says MACRA in the public notice. “Spectrum is a vital and scarce resource which is available equally in all countries throughout the world.”

MACRA says management and utilisation of the radio frequency spectrum is done on the national, regional and international level in coordination with internationally recognised bodies like the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

To this end, it says the assessment of Spectrum Management is therefore crucial to ensuring that this scarce and vital resource is put to efficient and effective usage.

“With the availability of such information, Government’s primary objective of ensuring competitive ICT services by allowing more players and modern services in the market will be realised,” declares MACRA.

And further suggests that for spectrum management to be all encompassing there is need to monitor and have a clear determination of spectrum usage in tandem with government’s development goals as stipulated on the Malawi Development Growth Strategy (MGDS).

“The major objective for the audit and re-farming exercise is to ensure efficient utilization of the assigned spectrum and consequential growth of services in the ICT sector by allowing more players access the required spectrum,” says MACRA.

MACRA says on behalf of Malawi Government, it is searching for Technical and Financial Proposals from reputable, qualified and experienced consultants to be considered for this assignment.

Interested consultants, MACRA states, must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the required assignment and the information may include but not limited to consultants detailed profile including general qualifications of key/senior consultants, at least two references in similar conditions and availability of relevant and appropriate skills and expected professional fees.

The prospective consultants, the authority further says must have in-depth and specialist understanding on variety of ICT sector issues.

Relevant expertise that MACRA is looking for may include but not limited to: the consultant’s Knowledge and experience in ICT regulatory matters; Previous experience in similar type of assignment; At least 7 years experience with modern access technologies utilizing wireless and wired access technologies like GSM, UMTS, CDMA, LTE; and Excellent writing and communication skills in English language.

MACRA explains that the consultants shall be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) procedures as set out by Malawi Government of Malawi Procurement Guidelines.

“Consultants are therefore instructed to submit their proposals in two separate clearly labeled envelopes, one for the technical proposal and another one for the Financial Proposal,” says MACRA.

MACRA says completed copies of proposals clearly marked “Proposal for Conducting Spectrum Audit and Re-Farming in Malawi must be submitted in two separate envelopes - one marked technical proposal for Conducting Spectrum Audit and Re-Farming in Malawi and the other one marked Financial Proposal for Conducting Spectrum Audit and Re-Farming in Malawi - and must be delivered to MACRA by 15:00 on Friday September 21, 2012 when opening of proposals will be done.

To submit proposals, e-mail: dg-macra@macra.org.mw; Tel: +265 1 883 611