Malawi’s mobile network operators have reduced the cost of data bundles by 30% in accordance with a directive from the country’s Ministry of Information.

The directive is in response to an online campaign Data Must Fall, initiated locally, and joined by the Minister of Information Gospel Kazako.

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) said the Ministry of Information ordered it to engage telecom operators to review and revise data prices, especially the lower volume bundles which are used by the majority of internet users.

MACRA released a statement clarifying the government’s position: “These engagements which mainly focused on the rate for 1GB volume bundles have been concluded. The outcome of the engagements will see a 30% reduction for the entry level 1GB volume bundle with telecom operators further reducing the volume bundles up to 4GB between a range of 10% and 31%.The communications authority would like to assure the public that it is committed to ensuring that services delivered are affordable and of good quality.”

Airtel Malawi PR and corporate communications manager Norah Chavula-Chirwa said effective 22 April, the company revised the prices and volumes for some daily, weekly and monthly data bundles.

The company has reduced the daily price of 1GB data bundle from MK1, 800 to MK1, 500, while the weekly price of 1GB has been reduced from MK2, 500 to MK2, 000 and 2GB monthly bundle from MK5, 000 to MK4, 000.

Chirwa also announced that the company has introduced a no-validity data bundles for 1GB which will offer customers more freedom to surf the internet.