1. INTRODUCTION
The National Information and Communications Technology Policy has been
developed by Government of Malawi to give direction on ICT development in the
country.
The ICT Policy will support the national goal of wealth creation and reduction of
poverty through sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development.
The policy is providing a framework for deployment, exploitation and development
of ICT to support the process of accelerated socio-economic development in
Malawi.
Government
development,
will
provide
direction
for
systematic
implementation, monitoring and review
ICT
program
through this
policy.
Government aims at consolidating an ICT approach for the mobilization, allocation
and utilization of resources to realize institutional, community, sector and national
development policies and strategies.
This
ICT
Policy
covers
Information
Technology
(IT),
Telecommunications,
Broadcasting and Postal services.
The ICT Policy aims at guiding:
a. The provision of ICT services in the rural areas and to the vulnerable groups;
b. The investment in priority ICT areas;
c. The Public Sector in the planning for the national development and utilization
of ICT; and
d. The formulation of an appropriate regulatory and legal framework aimed at
safeguarding
fundamental
human
rights,
protecting
privacy,
promoting
electronic services, and promoting competition in the ICT sector.
1.1. BACKGROUND
ICT has increasingly become one of the dominant factors affecting every facet of
development not only in Malawi but the world over. Significant ICT advances are
constantly taking place and continue to impact on socio-economic operations at
various levels of society. ICT advances have brought about changes in the way
business is conducted.
At the moment nations and organizations are investing
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