By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 19, Mana: Malawi Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has urged broadcasters, postal and courier operators to be submitting accurate and updated data reports related to their operations to the authority, as it is a mandatory obligation for such operators.

The remarks were made on Thursday in Mzuzu, by MACRA’S Director of Economic Regulation Andrew Nyirenda during the authority’s engagement with broadcasters and postal courier operators drawn from the north.

He said that no story can be told without numbers as statistics indicate where we are coming from and where we are heading to, hence the need for such reports for MACRA to understand how the operators are faring and for operators’ own assessment.

“We find it difficult as a regulator to be submitting information without any accurate and reliable statistics to government which is the policy maker for it to make meaningful policy interventions especially in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Sector which looks at broadcasting, postal and telecommunication services.

In the absence of data reports, MACRA relies on surveys which we conduct but surveys are expensive hence we need to be collecting the needed information from our licensees which are on the supply side,” said Nyirenda.

He added that data generated from the operators is expected to be updated quarterly so that it provides progression trends on ICT Sector in the country.

Nyirenda said the data can also show progression and challenges in the sector and move government through Ministry of Information and Digitalization to come up with interventions, projects and programs to address the gaps.

“This information can assist service providers on how best they can invest in the sector and how they can improve their performance besides that the information is also needed by various international bodies which Malawi is affiliated to.

Malawi is member of United Nations, International Communications Union, Universal Postal Union and International Broadcasting Association and they all need this information to know how Malawi is faring in the development of ICT,” added Nyirenda.

Radio Dinosaur Development and Technical Engineer, Alexander Mhango said the interactive meeting with the authority was an eye-opener to most of the operators in the ICT Sector, especially broadcasters.

“Following the meeting, we have understood which type of data should be presented and submitted to MACRA, however broadcasters should collaborate, share ideas and interlink with MACRA so that we have a common understanding and improve on data submission together,” said Mhango.

Some of the issues discussed in the meeting included key performance indicators of broadcasting, postal and courier sectors.