| Company | Mawingu Networks Ltd |
| Sector | Digital Communications Infrastructure |
| Country | Kenya and Tanzania |
| Total Project Cost | USD 14m |
| PIDG Commitment |
|
| Dates of PIDG involvement |
|
In Kenya and Tanzania, rural customers are often unserved or underserved by existing broadband provision, and access costs can be prohibitively high. With only 15 per cent of rural households in Kenya, and 14 per cent in Tanzania, having access to the internet at home, there is a significant ‘digital gap’ to be bridged if people living in rural areas are to harness the benefits of internet access for education, healthcare and business development.
When PIDG made its initial investment into Mawingu Networks Ltd (Mawingu) in 2022, the company was operating across 15 counties of Kenya, delivering rural internet access to >7,500 customers. With support from PIDG, Mawingu has grown its offering across Kenya, reaching >48,700 people across 28 counties to date.
In a second phase of development, PIDG invested alongside FMO, the Dutch development bank, to enable Mawingu to acquire Tanzanian internet service provider, Habari Node Ltd. The acquisition will allow Mawingu to scale its offering further, with 83,000 households and 1,200 business customers across rural Kenya and Tanzania expected to benefit from new fixed wireless connections.
Meaningful broadband internet access has been noted as the next developmental step for the African continent after access to energy. Once operating at scale, it is anticipated that Mawingu will attract further private sector finance to expand its offering across the region.
The company delivers its services via solar-plus-battery powered radio towers which it builds, operates and maintains.
Mawingu carries out ‘last-mile’ connections, delivering affordable fixed connectivity for domestic, business and public-sector premises (e.g. schools and healthcare facilities) via rooftop aerials and wi-fi router equipment.
Internet access has been shown to deliver significant benefits for education, employment and income, leading to wider economic development.
Mawingu is actively seeking to employ women in technical and professional roles as the business grows. The company will also engage with women and girls in rural communities to ensure that they are equipped with the digital skills training and opportunities required to make best use of internet access when it is installed.
