Internet charges becoming ‘hellish experience’: Malawi group to petition Macra

A pressure group, comprising a representation of the country’s internet users, has sworn on a stack of bibles that it intends to petition internet service providers in the country through Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) for over-pricing, Nyasa Time shas established.

The group said the charges are becoming a “hellish” experience for most Malawians who survive on abysmal incomes.

“It cannot be overemphasized how much of importance the internet has become. While the rest of the world is making access to the internet as cheaper and efficient as possible, the situation is a nightmare in Malawi,” said Wisdom Kamkondo Jnr, one of the leaders of the pressure group calling itself ‘Cheap and Affordable Internet Services for Malawians Now!’

Kamkondo, a web designer, added that the internet services were almost becoming hokum and hard-to-reach for Malawians.

“Almost all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have created hell for Malawians because of unreasonably exorbitant internet rates which seem to be unregulated and as a result users are stuck to go for the data packages at ridiculous prices,” added Mordecai Banda, another member of the group.

He added: “This must come to an immediate halt.”

The grouping, which said the petition is being drafted, called on Malawians to support their cause. They warned that they were ready to go as far as protesting on the same.

Information available on the Airtel Malawi website – one of the leading internet service providers in the country – indicates that, for example, the Airtel Lite data bundle (500Mb) costs K2 330 while Airtel Plus (2GB) is worth K5 825.

“Both bundles don’t last not more than two weeks even when one is doing such simple tasks as checking mail,” lamented Kamkondo.

The Airtel website also shows that Airtel Max (4GB) is worth K11 650 while My Airtel (10GB) costs K23 300. Much as these can keep someone much longer, Kamkondo observed, most Malawians cannot afford.

“It is a nightmare,” he said. “For a country whose majority lives on less than a dollar a day.”