Telecommunication services in Malawi, which were disrupted due to extensive damage caused by heavy rainfall in the Southern and Central Regions during December and early January, have now been fully restored. The flooding affected critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and optical fibre networks, while power outages at several Base Transceiver Station BTS sites further complicated service continuity.
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority MACRA activated the Emergency Telecommunications Operations Centre ETOC to coordinate disaster response and ensure uninterrupted telecommunications services nationwide. ETOC brings together telecom operators, ESCOM, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs DODMA, and other stakeholders to monitor network performance, prioritize repairs, and minimize disruptions during emergencies.
MACRA Acting Director General, Mayamiko Nkoloma, praised the efforts of engineers who worked under challenging and hazardous conditions to restore services. Their dedication ensured both emergency response and ongoing maintenance for hard-to-reach network infrastructure, demonstrating resilience in the face of natural disasters.
