The aim of component two is to leverage strategic public investments and incentives to improve access to high speed, affordable connectivity for government, citizens and businesses across Malawi.  In addition to the measures to boost sector competitiveness and network investment through regulatory and other “soft” mechanisms supported under component 1, there is a need for more direct intervention to encourage private sector infrastructure deployment in geographical areas which do not offer sufficient short to medium term returns, or are considered too risky to attract investment from the private sector alone.  There is also a need to exert competitive pricing pressure, create network redundancy and increase capacity along the most well trafficked network routes that are currently served by a limited number of providers.  This activity is divided into three sub-components; Connectivity for public institutions, Connectivity for Higher Education and innovative Rural broadband Access Solutions