Malawi: Telkom SA engaged to save G-Mobile

South Africa's Beryl Telecoms has engaged Telkom SA to operate and manage what is to become Malawi's third mobile phone service provider G-Mobile which is on the verge of losing its licence.

By Gregory Gondwe

3 Mar 2010

Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has given G-Mobile a fresh deadline of 12 April 2010, to roll out its services or risk revocation of its licence.

However, in a last attempt, G-Mobile has contracted the South African firm - a move which G-Mobile's project liaison officer Victor Chidziwisano said will bring top quality mobile phone services to Malawi.

G-Mobile conceded that the deadline is very tight, raising fears that the company could dissolve even before rolling out its services.

Last year G-Mobile entered a deal with South Africa's Beryl Capital and Telecoms worth US$90m, which was to supply, install and commission the company in the country hoping to beat the then December deadline. Although Beryl's MD Vincent Ramphenyane assured of a scheduled take off, G-Mobile still failed to roll out.

About Gregory Gondwe

Gregory Gondwe is a Malawian journalist who started writing in 1993. He is also a media consultant assisting several international journalists pursuing assignments in Malawi. He holds a Diploma and an Intermediate Certificate in Journalism among other media-related certificates. He can be contacted on gregorygondwe@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Kalipochi.
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