Airtel is to construct 19 network sites within the next two months in Malawi, and has revealed it is also partnering with energy utility, ESCOM.
Aashish Dutt, MD, Airtel Malawi, disclosed the rollout plans this weekend as part of a delegation visiting the newly-appointed minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Shadric Namalomba.
Accompanied by the secretary for ICT, Harold Msusa, Airtel Malawi’s interim board chairperson Kaisi Sadala led the delegation to meet Namalomba.
The delegation reaffirmed the mobile operator’s commitment to expanding digital infrastructure, improving service quality and supporting national development through sustained investment and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Dutt said Airtel was investing around K19 billion (US$10.9 million) annually in digital infrastructure, and had paid some K200 billion ($115.4 million) in taxes in 2025.
Dutt added Airtel was partnering with energy utility, ESCOM, to utilise overhead power lines for additional redundancy.
Airtel officials used the meeting to raise concern at prevailing issues afflicting the sector, mainly the forex shortages and inflation.
“As a new government and a new ministry leadership, it was important for Airtel, as a key industry player, to brief us on the issues affecting the sector,” Namalomba said.
The government of President Peter Mutharika has been in office since October.
The operator has previously disclosed a partnership with LEO satellite Internet service provider Starlink locally to strengthen connectivity in underserved areas locally.
A subsidiary of Bharti, Airtel Malawi has a total customer base of over 8.1 million in the landlocked Malawi.
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