Kenyan internet service provider Mawingu has secured $20 million in Series C funding to expand its network coverage and extend affordable, high-quality connectivity to more rural communities across the country.
The latest funding round, led by Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, comes at a time when digital inclusion is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone for economic and social progress in Africa.
Mawingu, which already operates the largest rural WiFi network in Kenya, aims to connect one million East Africans by 2028, marking a bold step toward narrowing the digital gap that has long hindered rural participation in the global digital economy.
“Raising capital in today’s environment is no small feat. It demands execution, resilience, and extraordinary people,” said Farouk Ramji, Chief Executive Officer of Mawingu.
“This Series C is more than just a financing milestone. It’s a celebration of our people, our partners, and the shared belief that connectivity can transform lives. Together, we are building a company rooted in impact and financial sustainability.”
What Does Mawingu Do?
Mawingu is a Kenyan-born internet service provider that focuses on delivering affordable broadband access to rural and peri-urban communities where traditional telecoms often find it unprofitable to operate.
The company provides community WiFi hotspots, home broadband packages, and business internet solutions designed to meet the needs of farmers, students, and small enterprises in low-income regions.
To reach these underserved populations, Mawingu employs an innovative mix of WiFi distribution and TV White Space technology, which transmits signals through unused television frequencies.
This allows it to provide strong, reliable connectivity over long distances and difficult terrain, a significant advantage in Kenya’s remote and mountainous regions.
According to data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), while internet penetration nationwide stands at about 72%, the majority of that coverage is concentrated in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
In contrast, less than 45% of rural households have stable access to affordable broadband.
Mawingu’s service model directly addresses this inequality by combining low-cost pricing, local employment, and renewable energy-based infrastructure, ensuring accessibility and sustainability even in off-grid locations.
Founding and Funding of Mawingu
Mawingu was founded in the early 2010s as part of Microsoft’s 4Afrika initiative, which sought to empower local entrepreneurs and expand digital access across Africa.
What began as a pilot project in Laikipia County has since evolved into a full-fledged telecommunications enterprise serving dozens of counties across Kenya.
Over the past decade, Mawingu has drawn investments from global and regional development financiers, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and InfraCo Africa, alongside Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, the lead investor in the current round.
These backers have supported Mawingu’s mission to balance social impact with commercial viability, a model increasingly gaining traction among investors in Africa’s digital infrastructure sector.
The $20 million Series C round brings Mawingu’s total raised capital to roughly $40 million, a significant milestone that underscores confidence in its growth potential.
The funding comes amid a global slowdown in venture capital investments, where African startups saw a 39% decline in funding in 2023, according to Partech Africa’s annual report.
Mawingu’s success in securing this investment thus highlights both its strong operational fundamentals and investor trust in Africa’s connectivity sector.
Mawingu’s Plans for the Newly Secured Funding
The newly raised $20 million will fuel an ambitious expansion plan aimed at extending internet coverage to remote counties across Kenya, such as Turkana, Garissa, and Marsabit, areas where connectivity remains critically low.
The company also intends to modernize its existing infrastructure, deploy thousands of additional access points, and enhance service capacity through solar-powered base stations that ensure uninterrupted operations even in areas without reliable electricity.
Mawingu’s leadership has hinted at strategic collaborations with local governments, educational institutions, and small businesses to create digital ecosystems that empower communities through training, e-learning, and e-commerce.
“Our goal isn’t just to connect homes but to connect opportunities,” said Ramji in an earlier statement. “By linking schools, markets, and health centers to the internet, we can unlock new forms of growth for people who have long been excluded from the digital economy.”
Furthermore, the company is exploring regional expansion within East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and Uganda, leveraging Kenya as a base for cross-border broadband deployment.
This expansion could position Mawingu as a key player in shaping the next generation of digital infrastructure in the region.
Why This Matters
Reliable internet access is increasingly seen as a basic necessity, vital for education, healthcare, governance, and commerce.
According to the World Bank, a 10% increase in broadband penetration in developing countries can lead to a 1.4% rise in GDP growth, making connectivity a powerful driver of socio-economic development.
In Kenya, where the government’s Vision 2030 blueprint places digital transformation at the heart of its economic agenda, Mawingu’s expansion aligns with national priorities to ensure no community is left behind in the information age.
Bridging the digital divide can enable more inclusive growth, empower youth through remote learning and innovation, and support rural entrepreneurs in accessing digital markets.
Experts say investments like Mawingu’s not only address infrastructure gaps but also foster digital equity.
By focusing on rural connectivity, Mawingu’s model challenges the dominance of profit-first telecom giants and demonstrates that impact-driven internet access can be both financially sustainable and socially transformative.
As Africa’s internet user base surpasses 570 million people, the continent’s next phase of growth will depend on how well companies like Mawingu can extend digital access to the other half, the millions still offline.
If successful, Mawingu’s work could become a blueprint for community-centered internet delivery models across sub-Saharan Africa.
