Abstract:
The high cost of internet services remains an inhibiting factor for digital inclusion in the context of African countries. The Government of Malawi and international development partners embarked on a free public Wi-Fi programme to support access to the internet and promote socio-economic development. This study explored the factors that were affecting the management and implementation of free public Wi-Fi. Using a qualitative approach, secondary data was thematically analysed. The findings showed that contextual conditions, management, and services affected the implementation of free public Wi-Fi. There were views that free public Wi-Fi was beneficial to citizens. However, risks related to cybersecurity were highlighted as one of the factors that could affect the use of free public Wi-Fi. The study proposes a conceptual framework that can be verified in similar studies in the context of developing countries.
