Lacell pays $1.1m to Macra for licence: Malawi new mobile operator to create 1 000 jobs

A new mobile phone network service, Lacell Private Limited, which has been awarded a license to operate in Malawi has paid Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) $1.1 million (K600 million) for the licence and spectrum, also said it is set to create 1 000 jobs.

 Macra board chairperson Alisha Makawa presents the licence to Sattar (R) on Monday
Macra board chairperson Alisha Makawa presents the licence to Sattar (R) on Monday
Macra board chair Alissa Makawa handing over  the licence to Lacell Board Chair Sattar
Macra board chair Alissa Makawa handing over the licence to Lacell Board Chair Sattar

Lacell board chair Farook Sattar said the newly licensed mobile phone network operator is thanking Malawi government for “conducive environment” to award a mobile licence to the company so that the consumers have choices on the market.

Sattar said Lacell has already invested $150 million (about K84 billion at the current exchange rate) and was ready to roll out its services.

Macra officially handed over the licence to Lacell on Monday evening at Protea Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre, making Lacell the fourth mobile company to be licenced after operational TNM and Airtel, and Celcom, which was licenced, but is yet to roll out.

Sattar said his company is committed to invest significant sums to enhance telecommunications potential for Malawi and that Lacell will bring “significant value and innovations” to the consumers of Malawi.

He pledged to roll out the network next year and that quality of service will not be compromised.

Sattar also promised that Lacell will introduce new services even to the rural masses for the social economic development of the country.

Macra director general Godfrey Itaye said the investment was commendable, adding the amount Lacell paid for the licence and spectrum in foreign currency was a big boost to the country’s economy.

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Manyaziulibe
Manyaziulibe
8 years ago

Good news because of late we have seen one of the telecommunication company stealing from we poor Malawians.
You put airtime in your phone and before using them you discover they are gone. You can agree with me fellow Malawians and I have believe some of you might have come across this theft
We really liked this competing and try some of these newly formed companies.Macra keep it up

4G
4G
8 years ago

THIS New network Better Be The Fastest…ndithu i’ll be The First To Join it

AFIKI
AFIKI
8 years ago

‘ENTER ‘ LACELL ‘ EXIT ‘ ESPECIALLY ‘AIRTEL ‘

hastings
hastings
8 years ago

How long is this Company´s tax holiday as you put it ?

Alex Likoswe
8 years ago

Let us use the money to develop infrastructure in tel

mr mr
mr mr
8 years ago

thats good news bola musangofuna kutibera

Pete Nyandoro
Pete Nyandoro
8 years ago

Three mobile phone operator, Nanga Access ndi nambala chani? Why exclude it? Poor research by Nyasa Times as always.

mbuzi
mbuzi
8 years ago

i will be the new IT director at this new company, TNM kunyada too much , mumva kuwawa agalu a TNM, mumawona ngati mulipo nokha eti??? muyisova basi Lacell woyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Will
Will
8 years ago

Thats good news to all malawians. Tiwone zina ndiponso chaka cha mawa ndikutali timafuna chomwe chino.

Mlomwe original
Mlomwe original
8 years ago

TNM ikutibera evict them out of market.
Network yawo too much noise sitikumvana

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