02 July 2024

The Malagasy government plans to take drastic measures against telecom operators if they do not lower the prices of their internet services, reported Tahina Razafindramalo, minister of digital development, posts and telecommunications.

The measures planned by the government could include the establishment of a price ceiling or even penalties. If necessary, these coercive measures will be applied by the Communication Technologies Regulatory Authority (ARTEC).

This warning from the government is part of the standoff that has pitted it against telecommunications operators for several weeks over the price of internet services. At the beginning of May, the executive revoked a decision that came into force in April, and which set the floor price of the internet at $0.95. It’s been suggested that telecom operators have artificially kept prices high, which is not in line with the commitments made during the negotiations.

A reduction in the costs of internet services should facilitate their adoption and use by the Malagasy population, accelerating the government’s digital transformation ambitions.