Mawingu Networks
Mawingu Networks is a Kenyan internet service provider founded in 2013 that delivers fixed wireless and Starlink-backed broadband to rural and peri-urban residential, SMB, and community-hub customers across Kenya and Tanzania via monthly subscription plans.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersNanyuki, Kenya
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Mawingu Networks does
Mawingu Networks is a Kenyan internet service provider founded in 2013 and headquartered in Nanyuki, Kenya, specializing in connectivity for rural and peri-urban communities. The company positions itself as Kenya's largest WiFi provider dedicated to underserved areas, operating across 40+ towns in Kenya and expanding into Tanzania through its November 2024 acquisition of ISP Habari. Its product portfolio includes MAX residential internet plans priced at KES 2,500–4,500 per month offering 20–40 Mbps speeds, BIZ business internet, Fixed Site installations, Bespoke enterprise solutions, and Value Added Services, with a new MAX30 plan launched in March 2026 to extend the residential tier lineup.
The company deploys fixed wireless access technology using solar-powered base stations, and has integrated Starlink LEO satellite backhaul through a February 2026 partnership with Microsoft to deploy 450 community hubs across Kenya. Its business model relies on monthly recurring subscription revenue distributed through a network of local field technicians, serving residential subscribers, small and medium businesses, and community access points. Mawingu employs 51–100 staff and has raised approximately $48M cumulatively, with its most recent $20M investment from Pembani Remgro in October 2025 for a reported 35% stake currently under COMESA Competition Commission review.
Mawingu Networks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mawingu Networks
- Legal name
- Mawingu Networks LTD
- Website
- https://mawingunetworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Mawingu Networks is a Kenyan internet service provider founded in 2013 that delivers fixed wireless and Starlink-backed broadband to rural and peri-urban residential, SMB, and community-hub customers across Kenya and Tanzania via monthly subscription plans.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mawingu Networks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Wireless Internet Services
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)
- SIC
- Radiotelephone Communications (4812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAE), Multi-Site Enterprise Connectivity Bundles (Hybrid WAN/MPLS+Internet) (HDAIAFAL), Residential/Broadband ISPs (Consumer Internet) (HDAIADAA)
Keywords
Where Mawingu Networks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nanyuki
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mawingu Networks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Home Internet (MAX): Monthly subscription plans for residential WiFi connectivity with unlimited data at various speed tiers
- Business Internet (BIZ): Reliable high-quality internet packages for businesses including fixed site, bespoke solutions, and value-added services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | MAX20 - Up to 20 Mbps for 3 devices (browsing, social media, email) |
| Subscription | Monthly | MAX30 - Up to 30 Mbps for 4 devices (streaming, gaming, work from home) |
| Subscription | Monthly | MAX40 - Up to 40 Mbps for 5+ devices (HD streaming, business, large households) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Mawingu Networks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mawingu Networks delivers unlimited fixed wireless and satellite-based internet connectivity to residential and business customers across rural and peri-urban Kenya. Its portfolio includes the MAX home WiFi tiered plans (20/30/40 Mbps starting at KES 2,500/month) and the BIZ business internet line offering fixed-site, bespoke, and value-added services such as public IP and managed firewall.
Product overview
Mawingu Networks operates as Kenya's largest WiFi provider dedicated to rural and peri-urban communities, offering a unified internet service portfolio comprising two core products: MAX Internet for Homes (residential WiFi with multiple speed tiers ranging up to 40 Mbps) and BIZ Internet for Businesses (reliable connectivity with fixed-site, bespoke, and value-added service options). Both product lines share the same underlying infrastructure and community-led service model, differentiated by target segment and feature complexity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MAX Internet for Homes Unlimited WiFi internet service for residential customers offering multiple speed tiers (MAX20 up to 20 Mbps, MAX30 up to 30 Mbps, MAX40 up to 40 Mbps) with monthly pricing from KES 2,500, marketed for browsing, streaming, online gaming, social media, email, and working from home.
- BIZ Internet for Businesses Reliable, high-quality internet service for business customers combining fixed-site packages, bespoke solutions, and value-added services (public IP, extension management, managed firewall). Offers shared and dedicated configurations to support daily operations of small and medium businesses in rural and peri-urban Kenya.
Quantifiable outcome
- Goal to impact 1 million people by 2028 through expanded internet access across rural Africa
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mawingu Networks
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mawingu Networks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Mawingu Networks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.
- MicrosoftflagshipMicrosoft partnered with Mawingu as the local ISP partner for its rural connectivity initiative in Kenya. Mawingu leads the deployment of Microsoft-Starlink connectivity to 450 community hubs in rural and underserved areas. Microsoft's global connectivity program has extended internet to over 299 million people worldwide, with 124 million in Africa.
- Starlink (SpaceX)flagshipStarlink provides low-Earth orbit satellite technology for Mawingu's rural connectivity deployments in Kenya. The collaboration combines Starlink's satellite capabilities with Mawingu's community-based deployment model to deliver AI-ready connectivity to 450 rural community hubs.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mawingu Networks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Safaricom: Dominant Kenyan mobile network operator with the largest subscriber base and ongoing 4G/5G rural expansion. Competes with Mawingu in last-mile connectivity but operates at vastly larger scale across voice, data, and M-Pesa mobile money.
- SEACOM: East African submarine cable and terrestrial fiber operator providing backbone connectivity. Competes with Mawingu indirectly as an upstream carrier and could move down-stack into last-mile rural services.
- CSquared: Google-affiliated African open-access fiber wholesaler operating metro and long-haul networks in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana. Provides wholesale backhaul that complements — or competes with — Mawingu's last-mile layer.
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies: Pan-African wholesale and enterprise connectivity provider with extensive fiber backbone across East Africa. Competes with Mawingu in enterprise/business connectivity and could credibly enter rural FWA at scale.
- Telkom Kenya: Kenyan incumbent telco offering fixed and mobile broadband with growing 4G footprint. Competes in residential and SME broadband with broader portfolio and brand recognition than Mawingu.
Direct peers
- Wananchi Group: Kenyan broadband provider (Zuku brand) offering fixed and wireless internet to homes and businesses. Competes with Mawingu's BIZ segment and overlaps in residential broadband, though historically more urban-focused.
- Poa Internet: Kenyan WISP serving low-income peri-urban neighborhoods with affordable home WiFi using a similar community-led distribution model. Direct head-to-head competitor in the same customer segment and price tier.
Regional players
- iWayAfrica: Pan-African satellite and fixed broadband ISP serving enterprise and consumer markets across multiple African countries. Comparable fixed wireless/satellite distribution model with broader geographic but similar rural connectivity focus.
- Africa Online: Historic East African ISP providing fixed broadband to enterprise and residential customers. Comparable legacy ISP business model in the same region, though with limited recent rural investment.
Emerging players
- Brastorne: Botswana-based mobile internet platform targeting rural and underserved African users. Comparable mission of affordable rural connectivity via innovative distribution, though operating in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mawingu Networks social profiles
Digital presenceMawingu Networks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mawingu Networks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Mawingu Networks subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Mawingu Networks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mawingu Networks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mawingu Networks
What does Mawingu Networks do?
Mawingu Networks delivers unlimited fixed wireless and satellite-based internet connectivity to residential and business customers across rural and peri-urban Kenya. Its portfolio includes the MAX home WiFi tiered plans (20/30/40 Mbps starting at KES 2,500/month) and the BIZ business internet line offering fixed-site, bespoke, and value-added services such as public IP and managed firewall.
Is Mawingu Networks a public or private company?
Mawingu Networks is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Mawingu Networks founded?
Mawingu Networks was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Mawingu Networks based?
Mawingu Networks is headquartered in Nanyuki, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Mawingu Networks make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Home Internet (MAX) is the primary driver. The others are business Internet (BIZ).
Who are Mawingu Networks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Safaricom, SEACOM, CSquared, Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Telkom Kenya. Direct peers are Wananchi Group and Poa Internet. Regional players are iWayAfrica and Africa Online. Brastorne is listed as an emerging player.
Does Mawingu Networks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mawingu Networks.
What industry is Mawingu Networks in?
Mawingu Networks's product category is Rural Wireless Internet Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIADAD, Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers, with a secondary code of HDAIABAE, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Broadband Providers. Its NAICS code is 51711 and its SIC code is 4812.