4.3 PANEL DISCUSSION: Regional Outlook-Realities and Opportunities of Internet Governance This was a panel discussion consisting of speakers from Malawi and Zambia, who shared the two countries’ experiences with internet governance and drew some parallels with experiences in Zimbabwe from the earlier sessions. MISA-Zimbabwe will partner with the two countries to strengthen its work around internet governance. This will be done through strategic experience sharing and networking. MALAWI PRESENTATION BY RACHEL SIBANDE Malawi Information Election Centre, Lead Technology Advisor Rachel is CEO and founder of Malawi's first technology hub; mHub. She was the lead person on the SMS citizen engagement platform hosted by the Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) during Malawi’s 2014 elections. • E-bill to regulate online communications; use of internet, social media, is also yet to be tabled in parliament. • Malawi has an ICT policy that provides a framework for deployment, exploitation and development of ICT. Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority regulates Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Postal services. Issues of the internet are now being integrated into some of the country’s legal instruments that had become outdated. Internet Governance in Malawi • Malawi set up a multi-stakeholder Internet Governance Forum in 2014- ahead of Zimbabwe. • It established an Internet Exchange point to peer and exchange all local trafficagain ahead of Zimbabwe. The establishment of an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) resulted in the speeding up of local searches on the internet. • A Google cache server lowered the latency of all Google traffic. Using local Google speeds up searches. • While there is adequate infrastructure in Malawi the issue of access still remains a challenge. Legal framework in Malawi Legal framework that governs the internet in Malawi include: • The Malawi Communications Act- has been reviewed to accommodate emerging trends in technology; • The Electronic Transactions Bill and Access to Information bills are yet to be tabled in parliament. Mobile telephony and the internet statistics in Malawi Number Statistic Indicator Year 1 Telephone Operators 5 (4 operational) 2013 2 Te l e v i s i o n / R a d i o broadcasters 77 2013 3 Internet/Data 46 (22 operators operational) 2013 4 Postal/Couriers Operators 13 2013 5 Te l e d e n s i t y / Telephone 39.8 2014 INTERNET GOVERNANCE MULTISTAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE REPORT 2015 029 www.misazim.com @misazimbabwe MISA Zimbabwe