Validation rules to enhance quality delivery in telecommunication services

By Priscilla Phiri

The Director of Economic Regulations for Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Andrew Nyirenda, has assured Malawians that validation rules that the Authority has developed will enhance quality delivery in the country’s telecommunication services.

The remarks were made Wednesday at a one-day workshop organised by MACRA organised at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe where various stakeholders were engaged on addressing key issues of telecommunication regulations in the country.

Speaking on behalf of MACRA Director General, Nyirenda stated that one of the issues that the Authority will address in its validation rules to ensure operators offer quality services to consumers is cyber security.

“We are looking at a number of regulations including the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) which is a system or piece of rules that will guide implementation of identity of equipment that mobile operators have on their systems to curb fraud.

“A lot of Malawians are losing money as well as mobile phones so we developed a system that will guide our operators with implementation of the CEIR,” said Nyirenda.

He also mentioned that MACRA is also looking into reviewing the Communications Act to encourage operators provide services without restrictions from the Authority.

The Authority is encouraging use of new technologies without having it putting a stop.

Among other validation rules that MACRA has included are rules on national roaming to enable subscribers have uninterrupted experiences in areas where mobile networks are unavailable.

Network Director for Airtel Malawi, Mphatso Manda, said the validation rules will create an environment that will enable service providers deliver quality services to their customers.

“For us, as service operators, we live in an environment which is properly regulated and everything we do must have guiding principles.

“So, this consultative process gives us a say in the new regulations that are coming like the CEIR, SIM pricing and number portability. This shows that we are partners with MACRA,” said Manda.

Recently the Authority held sensitisation meetings in Mchinji and Ntchisi with consumers on CEIR, a system will give consumers the right to block and track stolen mobile devices.