Madagascar’s Ministry of digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications has announced that internet tariffs in the country are to be slashed, starting this week.
The decision follows discussions between the Ministry and operators, aimed at improving digital accessibility for the country’s population.
Minister Mahefa Andriamampiadana said the scale of reductions will depend on each operator’s technical and financial capacity, but emphasised that fixed internet pricing should no longer rely solely on per-gigabyte charges, an approach that disproportionately affects small and low-income users.
On operators’ calls to remove excise duties, the Ministry said it is open to supporting the proposal, providing it does not harm state revenues.
“Any financial relief granted to operators is expected to be reinvested into improving services, particularly through more affordable offers, faster speeds, and continued infrastructure upgrades,” he said.
Reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive and competitive digital ecosystem, the Ministry said the new pricing approach is designed to extend the benefits of reliable internet access to more citizens while advancing Madagascar’s broader development objectives.
The government has taken a firm stance in its broader dispute with operators over internet costs. In a statement, officials insisted that price cuts must be “real, simple and visible” across the daily data plans most citizens rely on.
Authorities criticised the current offerings—1.1 GB for 3,000 ariary, 2.5 GB for 5,000 ariary and 5.5 GB for 10,000 ariary—as “small, conditional and temporary,” arguing that poorer households effectively pay more per gigabyte than wealthier users.
Officials also rejected operators’ claims that tax adjustments would not affect state revenue, saying fiscal policy cannot be shaped around private calculations.
The Ministry, however, reaffirmed that the ultimate goal is an inclusive, competitive digital ecosystem that extends reliable internet access to all citizens.
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