Approximately 1.1 trillion kwachas, or about $634 million, as well as nearly 490,000 jobs, could be generated in Malawi by 2030 through accelerated digital transformation. This estimate is included in a report published by the GSMA, the international organization representing mobile operators and the entire mobile ecosystem, on August 20, 2026. The study highlights that the development of digital services could support the growth of the Malawian economy by improving access to the Internet, business productivity, and the efficiency of public services.
However, this potential remains largely untapped. In 2025, 87% of the Malawian population was covered by 4G, but this coverage does not yet translate into equivalent use of mobile Internet. The GSMA estimates that about 80% of people living in an area covered by mobile broadband do not use the Internet on their phones. The unique penetration of mobile Internet stands at 12.5%, while smartphone adoption rates reach 33%.
Recommendations
According to the report, one of the main challenges is to make digital services more accessible. The organization recommends, among other things, removing the 10% excise tax applied to mobile services and reducing taxation on entry-level smartphones. It also advocates for strengthening digital skills and continuing investments in telecommunications infrastructure. The goal is to enable a larger portion of the population to fully benefit from existing coverage.
The expected benefits also concern several sectors of the economy. The digitization of transportation, logistics, and supply chains should improve the movement of people and goods. According to the report, modernizing transportation could increase sector revenues by 10%, while digitizing customs procedures could lead to a 54% increase in public revenues over five years. E-commerce is expected to open up new opportunities for businesses, especially SMEs.
$240 billion generated in 2025 on the continent
These prospects align with Malawi’s national priorities, including the Malawi 2063 strategy, the government program 2025-2030, as well as the Digital Malawi Acceleration and Inclusive Digital Transformation for Malawi initiatives. At the continental level, this momentum accompanies the development of public digital infrastructure. According to the DPI.Africa report cited in the analysis, the African technology sector generated $240 billion in 2025, approximately 7.8% of the continent’s GDP.
Commerce and technology-related services also serve as growth drivers. The report estimates that e-commerce could represent 15% of GDP, while ICT service exports could reach 7% of GDP. For small businesses, the adoption of digital technologies could result in a labor productivity gain of between 2% and 4%. For Malawi, the challenge will now be to transform digital coverage into concrete uses in order to increase the economic and social impact of the sector.
