The ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) has urged for intensified efforts to boost digital adoption across the country, particularly among rural communities, to enhance participation in the digital economy.

ICTAM General Manager, Andrew Kamwendo, says expanding affordable internet access is key to achieving this goal, emphasizing the need for investment in fiber networks, communication towers, and community Wi-Fi initiatives to bridge the digital divide.

"We need to invest much in infrastructure so as to see digitalization adopted in all parts of the country including in the rural areas," said Kamwendo.

Kamwendo was reacting to a latest World Bank annual report which indicates that digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa — including Malawi remains slow, with only 24 percent of the regional population connected to the internet.

The report, titled “Creating Jobs, Growing Economies,” says embracing digitalization is one of the way of driving development and reducing poverty.

"Digitalisation is one of the most potent development tools available. Yet, the Eastern and Southern Africa region has the slowest pace of digitalisation globally, with only 24 percent of the population using the internet as of 2023," read the report.

"The World Bank's Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) program is putting speed, scale, and inclusion at the heart of regional digital transformation. Launched in fiscal 2025, the nearly $2.5 billion program aims to empower 180 million people with internet access and provide digitally enabled services to 100 million people over the next eight years." 

Recently, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) recently reported that 36.9 percent of Malawians currently have access to the internet.