Consumers getting raw deal—Macra

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has said telecommunication companies are giving consumers a raw deal, especially in call drop rates although the average picture looks good.

In the 2013 fourth quarter Information Communication Technology (ICT) audit published in the press this week, Macra has said it will introduce independent means of verifying the submitted data from operators so as to achieve quality service.

Access communications Limited (ACL), Airtel, Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) and TNM had their performance analysed in the period under review

In the report, the authority has said network availability targets for Airtel and TNM are below acceptable levels and has encouraged the two service providers to seriously look into it and make improvements.

Specifically, the communications regulator has said TNM needs to improve its call setup success, hand over success rates, and radio network availability, because they were below acceptable levels.

Macra has, however, noted that MTL did not submit all the data and has encouraged the operator to rectify its problems as soon as possible, otherwise its persistent non submission of some key performance indicators will be seen as a deliberate ploy to run away from being assessed.