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By Mercy Kachenge
Nairobi, Kenya: Mawingu, East Africa’s largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a focus on rural and peri-urban markets, has announced a major $20 million investment from Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund II (PRIF II).
The strategic funding deal is set to accelerate Mawingu’s mission to scale inclusive and sustainable digital infrastructure across underserved communities in Africa.
The new financing marks a significant milestone in Mawingu’s long-term expansion strategy, which aims to positively impact 1 million people by 2028. The company plans to achieve this through disciplined acquisitions of local ISPs and the deployment of digital networks in areas historically excluded from connectivity due to high costs and geographic barriers.
“As a multi-country operator on the continent with dedicated presence in the rural and peri-urban markets, this latest funding announcement marks a significant milestone for Mawingu, moving closer to our goal of positively impacting 1 million people in Africa by 2028,” said Mawingu’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ramji.
The company’s model addresses Africa’s persistent “digital gap.” While internet access is widely recognized as a driver of education, employment, income, and overall economic development, many rural and peri-urban communities remain unserved or underserved.
Broadband costs in these areas are often prohibitively high. To tackle this challenge, Mawingu follows a “buy-and-build” strategy, acquiring, building, and operating sustainable networks that can thrive in difficult operating environments. By integrating other successful ISPs, the company is rapidly broadening its scale and extending coverage to strategic markets across the continent.
Mawingu’s growth strategy has already shown results. In 2024, the company entered Tanzania through the acquisition of Habari, one of the country’s leading ISPs.
Since then, Mawingu has secured a national license, added more than 3,000 new home users, and expanded coverage to nine regions in Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa, Manyara, Mara, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Morogoro, and Shinyanga. This expansion underscores Mawingu’s ability to integrate acquisitions effectively while driving access to affordable and reliable internet.
From PRIF II’s side, the deal reflects strong confidence in Mawingu’s track record and growth potential.
Ridwaan Tayob, who led the transaction, said: “Mawingu’s track record of disciplined growth and innovation in underserved markets makes them an ideal partner for PRIF II. This investment reflects our confidence in their ability to scale sustainably across Africa, and we’re excited to support their mission of expanding meaningful connectivity where it’s needed most.”
The urgency of this mission is reinforced by data highlighting Africa’s connectivity gap. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only about 12% of households have access to fixed broadband, leaving millions without stable internet despite the wider adoption of mobile internet.
The World Bank has found that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can raise GDP growth by 1.38% in developing countries, underscoring the transformative potential of expanding access to affordable internet.
Mawingu and PRIF II believe their partnership represents a critical step toward unlocking that potential. By leveraging investment capital, technical expertise, and a proven acquisition model, the collaboration aims not only to scale internet access but also to contribute to Africa’s inclusive digital and economic growth.
