Anti-Bakili Muluzi / MALAWI POLITICS TODAY

MTL launches PAYG internet

Malawi incumbent telco Malawi Telecommunications Ltd (MTL) has launched MTL FreeNET, a dial-up internet service for its fixed line customers in the capital Blantyre, via the company’s own ISP MTL Online. ‘FreeNET is a dial-up service, which will enable MTL customers to have access to the internet with no monthly subscription or registration, and the service connects to your computer via a modem and your MTL line,’ said one company official, adding that MTL was targetting a potential 70,000 internet users. Internet penetration remains extremely low in Malawi, with the latest ITU estimate in September 2006 putting the number of users at 52,500 (0.4% of the population).