In Kenya, Mawingu has shifted its focus to providing exclusive fibre and fixed wireless services in a market dominated by Safaricom and Jamii Telecoms. With over 30,000 subscribers, Mawingu aims to expand into peri-urban areas, with plans to connect around 10% of its customers to fibre by the end of the year. The company has already laid 20 kilometers of fibre in Isiolo and intends to do the same in other regions like Garissa.
Mawingu’s origin stems from a collaboration between the Kenyan government and Microsoft, utilizing TV white space technology to extend internet access to underserved areas. While the company initially experimented with TV white space, it has now transitioned to fixed wireless services. This shift was influenced by the high costs associated with TV white space infrastructure, making it challenging for smaller ISPs to sustain.
In response to the evolving market, larger telcos have made strategic moves like Safaricom upgrading its fibre speeds and Starlink introducing disruptive packages. Despite facing competition, Mawingu continues to cater to customers in areas underserved by major ISPs.