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.

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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