Internet Service Provider, Mawingu, is on the verge of closing a new investment round in the coming months, as it moves to capture a larger share of the digital market in the country.
With over 7,000 active users, Mawingu is the country’s largest Internet service provider catering to rural Kenya, with presence in 15 counties, notably in the Mount Kenya region.
The company has already begun to increase its outreach into towns which have not been well served and generally neglected by the larger players in the industry.
In the past few months, Mawingu has expanded into Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, and Voi, towns which other providers have not given primary priority due to the high capital cost and logistical complexities involved in providing them with reliable and affordable connectivity.
Mawingu’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk RAMJI says:
“All these towns have proved that the unit economics of expansions with low-cost and flexible infrastructure can be successful.”
Mawingu also confirms that the expected funding will be utilised to increase its coverage into 25 additional counties. In preparation for the said expansion, the company has rebranded, introducing a new logo, a fresh set of company values, and its renewed mission, all reflective of its long-term vision to open opportunities to customers across the region.
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Mr. RAMJI adds:
“Mawingu’s aim is not to simply drop an Internet cable at someone’s house. We seek to help our customers access new opportunities for work, education, entertainment, and social connections, through the power of the Internet. Our company’s mission is driven by this very purpose: Open Opportunities.”
Mawingu is now positioning itself as a provider of quality Internet at affordable rates, with the capacity and desire to connect frontier regions that have never had access to meaningful Internet. In just the past year, the company became EBITDA positive, and grew its sales by 300%, without having to incur new expenses.
The Kenyan Internet industry has traditionally been dominated by a few well-established players who have captured the larger share of the market in urban areas. Yet, the lack of rural Internet penetration has left a customer gap which smaller and more agile companies are now learning how to leverage.
About Mawingu
Mawingu is a rural Internet Service Provider (ISP) founded in 2012 below the foothills of Mount Kenya in Nanyuki, offering meaningful internet connectivity by building sustainable, flexible infrastructure in underserved regions. Mawingu has connected +7,000 homes and business, and +300,000 hotspot users across the country. Operating in 15 counties, Mawingu is now the largest ISP in Kenya catering solely towards the rural and peri urban markets in the country.
Offering a series of shared Internet packages for homes and small businesses, as well as dedicated connections and services for large enterprises, Mawingu seeks to democratise access to knowledge, commerce, entertainment, and social connections for all.
Mawingu’s ability to deliver Internet into rural areas is primarily driven by its use of wireless, fibre, and smart green-energy technology, making it possible to adapt to the changing terrain demands and market conditions.
Mawingu has a network transmission fabric comprised of 100+ towers (base stations), which are backhauled directly to dedicated fiber trunks and/or high-capacity microwave links with diversity and high levels of redundancy built into the architecture.
We are now ready to expand our outreach by opening opportunities for millions of homes across the African continent.
Please visit www.mawingu.co to learn more about Mawingu.