Type Approval is the process by which any Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment is authorized by MACRA to be used in Malawi having verified the equipment’s compliance with the applicable standards and requirements.

Countries do Type Approval (certification, registration or declaration of conformity) in order to have legal basis for the connection of such equipment to the existing public networks without affecting the operations of the networks.

Equipment / product must be labeled to demonstrate compliance to established standards, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and general safety.

MACRA undertakes approvals for received applications from entities such as

1. local and international manufacturers,
2. authorized dealers,
3. licensed operators,
4. companies, and
5. individuals so long as they meet the required approval procedure by submitting the requisite documentation.

1.  An application for type approval certificate must be made to the

Authority through the office of the Director General.

2.  Valid documentation for the equipment and/or must be included in the application:

• Manufacturers’ technical documents and specifications.
• Type approval Certificates from renowned, verifiable and Authentic Type Approving Institution.

3.  Upon approval by the Authority, a proforma invoice will be issued to the applicant.

4.  Processing fee of $300.00(Three Hundred U.S. Dollars) is charged per Equipment. MACRA may from time to time revise this fee and will properly inform the applicants of the changes.

5.  Certificates will be issued after proof of full payment.

Provisions 5(2)(j) and 5(2)(o) of the Communication Act Cap 68:01 of the laws of Malawi specify two categories of equipment that have to be type approved namely:

1.  Radio Equipment e.g. Transmitters, Transceivers, antennas.

2.  Telecommunications Terminal equipment e.g. mobile phones.

3.  Any Interference causing Equipment e.g. Short Range Devices

Below is how the provisions read in the Communications Act of the laws of Malawi :

5(2) (j) to establish a type approval regime for terminal equipment, to grant approvals and to ensure that type approval procedures are adhered to;

5(2) (o) to establish technical requirements and technical standards in relation to-

• – radio apparatus; and
• – interference-causing equipment, or any class thereof;

The main goal of the type approval regime is to ensure that all Radio and Telecommunication Terminal Equipment that are used in Malawi comply with the applicable technical standards and requirements. Equipment Type Approval ensures that new equipment coming to Malawi does not cause Interference to existing systems. It is therefore a mandate that all equipment specified for type approval must be examined for approval to operate in Malawi.