On June 9, 2022, AmCham Madagascar held its traditional Thursday Morning Round Table at Le Centell Hotel Antanimena, and received as guest the Minister of Digital Development and Digital Transformation, Posts and Telecommunications Tahina RAZAFINDRAMALO. The Minister’s speech was mainly rooted in the presentation of the Ministry’s projects under the theme: "Meeting the needs for modernization of the country by establishing e-governance and providing e-services" that converges towards President Rajoelina’s "Velirano 11 and 4". Tahina Razafindramalo announced ongoing digital projects that he believes will facilitate the life of Malagasy citizens, including E-fokontany, E-vahiny, E-vaksiny, E-orinasa. The Minister affirms that digital development is an obligatory pathway to provide better access to the most remote areas of the country, to support the fight against corruption, but also to modernize the Malagasy administration.

During his presentation, Tahina Razafindramalo highlighted two key areas of the ministry's projects that address governance issues in Madagascar. On the one hand, he proposes to innovate public services in order to facilitate the daily life of Malagasy people. On the other hand, he presented e-governance projects including the establishment of data centers, as well as the modernization of telecommunications networks of the Malagasy Administration. Thus, the discussion between AmCham members and guests, and the Minister was focused on Madagascar’s adaptation capacity to the digital era, and the opportunities that innovation and digital development offer to the country.

Are we ready for 5G?

Regarding internet performance, Tahina Razafindramalo explains that talking about 5G is not a priority yet at this point, even if two out of three internet providers have done experimentation in Antananarivo and Toamasina for two years now. Madagascar does not have any sufficient 3G and 4G coverage yet. Today, prioritizing giving remote and rural areas access to 3G and 4G is more relevant. Nevertheless, such technology would fit in the Smart City project. A point to note is, the President just signed a Memorandum Of Understanding during his visit in Dubaï. Different tools, equipments and technologies such as the Internet of Things, optical fiber and satellite coverage, a new data center, traffic lights led by artificial intelligence will be therefore put in place for the project.

Additionally, financial inclusion is among the Ministry’s priorities as well. Discussions on the implementation of the postal bank are now in progress and a final decision is expected to be made by late September. The project targets the creation of 20,000 points of sales.

The State is also working on seeking subsidies to make smartphones available to more Malagasy households. An increased number of users would lead to the drop of internet packages prices. The same way, the expansion of mobile money into the rural market would be made easier. One important point that the Minister stressed on was, the government opens the market to any internet provider and any potential investor, and is by no mean promoting a monopoly situation.

Partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons

Tahina Razafindramalo announced that a 250-million-dollar cross project between the MNDPT and the MEH has been supported by the World Bank. Plans to develop mutual electricity and telecommunications infrastructure are currently in a study phase. The project is set to start next year, and the Minister expects the involvement of both local and foreign companies in its implementation.

Among the members and guests presents: Airtel Madagascar, QMM, ViMa, Socota Group, Miellerie de la Grande-Ile, Mioty Voajanahary, BushProof, Evolutis, Madagascar Products, Radisson Blu, Madagascar Oil, CPP System, X-Seller, Saveurs de Madagascar, Entreprise Kinga, and the US Embassy in Madagascar.

By John Timothy Andrianaivo and Maherintsoa Andrianiaina