The Telecommunications Company of Mali (SOTELMA), or Sotelma-Malitel, has been privatised. It operates under the brand Moov Africa Malitel, whose services are landline, mobile, Internet and electronic money (Mobicash). The supplier (Maroc Telecom Group) holds 51% and the Malian State (49%) of participation.

It is reported that Mali mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.

Mali has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

It is reported that the Malian Authority for the Regulation of Telecommunications and Posts (AMRTP), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

Mali is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).

Section 96 of the Communications Act requires a licensee to use approved types of equipment for connection to an electronic network. The Communications Authority may, at the request of any licensee, manufacturer or supplier of equipment, conduct type approval tests and issue type approval certificates with respect to electronic communications equipment intended for use in Malawi. The Communication (Type Approval) Regulations, which provides for a list of approved, prohibited and exempted electronic equipment, is, however, in draft form, presently at the consultation stage.

Sections 52 and 53 of the Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act of 2016 require cryptography services or products to be registered with the Communications Authority. Furthermore, the use, importation, and exportation of encryption programs and products are subject to government authorisation. Section 67 of the Act mandates that encryption service providers disclose the technical characteristics of their encryption methods and the source code of the software used to the Authority. Non-compliance with these regulations constitutes a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and a fine.

According to Section 18 of Payment Systems (E-money) Regulations, the Reserve Bank shall prescribe limits on transaction values and balance limits on e-money accounts for individual subscribers and agents. E-money accounts for corporate bodies shall be exempted from transaction and balance limits. In addition, for purposes of the Regulation, 'transaction limits' are established as the limits for the total value of transactions originating from a mobile money account and involving a transfer of e-value out of that account. According to the second annexe of the regulations, the maximum transaction limits are:
- K750,000.00 (approx. USD 737) per day for personal subscriber accounts;
- K20,000,000.00 (approx. USD 19,700) per day for agents; or
- K100,000,000.00 (approx. USD 98,300) per day for merchants.
In addition, the account balance limits are:
- K1,000,000.00 (approx. USD 980) on personal subscriber accounts;
- K25,000,000.00 (approx. USD 24,600) on agent accounts; or
- K100,000,000.00 (approx. USD 98,300) for merchants.

It is reported that the de minimis threshold, that is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 60, below the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

The law in Malawi provides for local presence requirements for payment systems operators. Section 14 of the Payment Systems Act requires all systems operators (i.e. non-bank financial institutions, mobile payment system operators, remittance service providers, card issuers, or other persons as licensed or authorised by the Reserve Bank) to have a registered office in the country.

The Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act of 2016 provides a comprehensive consumer protection framework that applies to online transactions. Consumer protection for online purchases is provided in Part V of the Act of 2016. Among others, the Act binds the supplier to deliver the goods or to provide the services immediately upon conclusion of the contract; mandates the supplier to make available security procedures and privacy policy in respect of payment, payment information, and personal information of the consumer; and gives rights to the consumer to withdrawal from a contract concluded by electronic means without giving reasons and without penalties.

Malawi has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Malawi has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.