Malawi telcos form industry body

TELECOMS

By Gregory Gondwe, Blantyre, Malawi

Malawi's four telecommunications service providers have formed and registered what will be known as the Association of Telecommunications Operators Limited (ATOL).

The body's current President, the Chief Executive Officer for Airtel Malawi Limited (Airtel), Saulos Chilima, said ATOL is an umbrella grouping comprising of all four licensed and operational telecommunications operators in Malawi, namely Access Communications Limited (ACL), Airtel Malawi Limited (Airtel), Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL), and Telekom Networks Malawi Limited (TNM) (the operators).

"ATOL is aimed at providing the operators with a single platform with which they can articulate and attend to matters of common interest relevant to the telecommunications industry," explained Chilima.

He said the operators intend to use ATOL in their engagement with such stakeholders as the Government and its agencies, including the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority(MACRA), as well as consumers.

He further explained that the leadership of ATOL comprises the Chief Executive Officers of the operators.

Chilima said although currently, the Presidency of ATOL, which shall be on rotational basis, vests in him, the public and all the stakeholders are advised and encouraged to contact the secretariat, which at the moment is being housed at TNM offices in Blantyre or email at info@ato.mw) for any regulatory and operational matters common to the telecommunication industry.