Malawi introduces nine-digit numbering plan

MACRA director general Mike Kuntiya explained that the proposed nine-digit plan will also have nine access codes each accommodating nine service providers of ten million numbers each while the current access code accommodates one million subscribers.

One of the factors that have prompted MACRA to change the system is to cope with the modern technological developments of telecommunications services of the world.

All the telecommunications operators in Malawi will switch to the new system and will include the two mobile phone service providers Zain Malawi Limited and Telekom Networks Limited (TNM).

The newly licensed, but yet to roll out mobile phone service provider, Globally Advanced Integrated Networks Limited (GAIN) and the yet to become second fixed telephone line provider, Access Communications Limited (ACL) will commence their services using the new system.

The country's sole fixed telephone line service provider Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) will still maintain the seven digit format due to what MACRA has described as technical limitations with some of their exchange stations.

Parallel running of the old and new numbering will last for a period of three months up to 30 June, 2009 and thereafter by 1 July, 2009 the new NP will come into full force.

Each network will have its own network access code which will mean that the international public telecommunication number structure for Malawi will have 12 digits which will include the country code consisting of three digits and the national significant number consisting of nine digits.