In a bid to support e-learning initiative launched by Ministry of Education amid Covid-19, Member of Parliament for Blantyre City South Constituency, Noel Lipipa has called on all mobile network operators in Malawi to suspend the expiration of data bundles being offered to its customers
Ministry of Education and TNM Plc on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on e-learning initiative that will facilitate learning despite the closure of schools and colleges in the country since March 23, 2020 amid Covid-9 pandemic.
Lipipa said telecommunication companies should at meantime suspend data bundle expiry for its customers so that learners are able to access educational materials from the internet throughout with the minimal bundle they purchase.
“Time has come for customers through our regulatory body MACRA to order that Airtel and TNM must prominently display the current data tariffs on their website. The companies must immediately stop depriving consumers’ unused data based on the data expiry model,” said Lipipa.
In Malawi, network consumers are only allowed to use data bundles within a specified period of time and once the period is over consumers are required to purchase new bundles.
“As long as the SIM card is active and the consumer keeps recharging data bundles are not qualified as perishable goods if we are serious about e-learning,” Lipipa concluded.
Amid Coronavirus, major mobile service providers, TNM and Airtel have only taken measures to waive money transfer charges by completely removing user fees and charges on person to person transfers as well as to reduce user fees and charges on person to person transfers across their respective networks from a minimum of K120.00 to K20.00 that will accrue to Natswitch.
