Airtel Malawi has announced plans to construct 19 new network sites over the next two months, in collaboration with the energy utility company ESCOM. This commitment was unveiled by Aashish Dutt, Managing Director of Airtel Malawi, during a recent meeting with the newly-appointed Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Shadric Namalomba.
Aashish Dutt, alongside a delegation that included the secretary for ICT, Harold Msusa, and Airtel Malawi’s interim board chairperson, Kaisi Sadala, visited Namalomba to discuss the company’s expansion plans and reaffirm their dedication to enhancing digital infrastructure and service delivery in the country.
The mobile operator is investing approximately US$10.9 million annually in its digital infrastructure and has contributed around US$115.4 million in taxes in 2025. In addition to constructing new sites, Airtel is working with ESCOM to leverage overhead power lines, thereby enhancing the reliability of its network operations.
During the meeting, Airtel representatives expressed their concerns regarding ongoing challenges in the telecommunications sector, notably currency shortages and inflation. Minister Namalomba acknowledged the importance of hearing from key industry players, such as Airtel, to understand the issues currently impacting the sector.
Airtel Malawi is part of Bharti Airtel and serves over 8.1 million customers in Malawi. The company has also announced a partnership with the local LEO satellite Internet provider, Starlink, to enhance connectivity in underserved regions. The government, under President Peter Mutharika, has been in power since October.
The initiatives signal Airtel’s ongoing commitment to supporting national development through sustained investments and corporate social responsibility efforts.
