The previous ordinary session of the National Assembly left a bitter taste, but the issue is back on the table. The government is attempting to have the lower house adopt a bill aimed at improving connectivity and attracting digital investment. This is Bill No. 040/2026 on electronic communications and digital infrastructure, submitted by the executive on August 28.
According to the explanatory memorandum, “this new legislation aims to modernize the sector’s legal framework and support the evolution of usage.” The text will replace a 2005 law that predates mobile internet. Its examination by deputies is expected during the current session, although it is not yet on the National Assembly’s agenda.
The bill intends to clean up the sector, particularly regarding competition, to ensure the same rules apply to everyone. According to the Ministry of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications (MNDPT), “the bill is based on a single doctrine: opening the sector without discouraging those who invest. It is about protecting investment without protecting an acquired position, with general rules applicable to all, present and future.”
The goal is to reassure investors. “Building antennas and fiber optics requires considerable sums over several years, and those who take this risk must be able to see the fruits of their labor,” explains the MNDPT. To provide more visibility, Article 111 provides for guaranteeing the stability of legal, tax, customs, and financial regimes applicable to operators for the duration of their licenses.
In the long term, the executive wants to increase the digital sector’s share of GDP to 6% by 2028. This is the objective of the Digital Strategic Plan (PSN) launched in 2023, which also aims to create 137,000 jobs by 2028. However, the gap between reality and ambition is stark. In rural areas, one-third of the population lives outside 4G coverage, and 29% have no mobile coverage at all, according to the Communication Technologies Regulatory Authority (Artec).”
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-27 06:08:58 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/acces-internet-une-nouvelle-legislation.html
