The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited has described its business unit, Optic Fibre Communications (OFC), as a perfect vehicle for complementing the government’s agenda of increasing internet access in the country.
OFC Chief Engineer, Nkwachi Theu, said this on the sidelines of the firm’s participation in a two-day ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) Expo at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Theu said OFC has also sponsored the ICT Expo with K10 million to showcase its products and services that ensure increased internet access even in rural areas in line.
“ESCOM is a big company, and what most people know about ESCOM is electricity, but ESCOM is also playing a major role in the telecommunications industry. ESCOM has brought optic fibre communications, which is a major player in the telecoms industry. So, we are showcasing some of the products and services that we are providing under Optic Fibre Communications,” Theu said.
Theu further emphasised the importance of embracing technology to uplift Malawi’s telecommunication sector, calling for more players to penetrate rural areas with internet services.
“As ESCOM OFC, we have also gone to rural areas and places like Likoma. Likoma Island is one of the places where there are no operators offering internet services under optic fibre. OFC is giving internet in Likoma on a fibre base. We have got clients that are getting internet and even services that we are offering through our optic fibre communications,” he said.
“As a country, we need to embrace technology. The government is advocating for Data Must Fall initiative. As OFC, we are a major player in that initiative. We are bringing a lot of internet into the country. We want Malawians to access the internet and use it for both entertainment and research as well.”
Opening the ICT Expo, Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor, Dr. McDonald Mafuta Mwale, said Malawi is closing digital gaps through homegrown innovations in line with Malawi 2063, creating new economic opportunities.
Therefore, Dr. Mwale called for stronger collaboration to transform the economy through inclusive digital services.
ICTAM President Clarence Gama urged stakeholders to prioritise local ICT companies and reduce reliance on foreign service providers.
The two-day expo is a hub for innovation, solutions, and sustainable development.
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CAPTION: Theu welcomes Dr Mafuta Mwale to OFC’s Pavilion at BICC