A long-standing partnership between Kenyan internet provider Mawingu and tech giant Microsoft is set for a major upgrade, following a new collaboration with Elon Musk’s satellite firm, Starlink.
The deal aims to accelerate high-speed internet access in Kenya’s most remote regions by combining Starlink’s low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology with Mawingu’s existing ground infrastructure.
Under the new arrangement, Mawingu will spearhead the technical deployment, utilizing its “community-first” strategy to reach areas where traditional fiber cables are often impractical.
Consequently, the ISP expects to transform hundreds of local institutions into high-speed connection points.
“Mawingu will deploy, integrate, and operationalise connectivity across 450 community hubs in rural and peri-urban regions nationwide. These hubs, including schools, farmer cooperatives, aggregation centres, and digital resource facilities, will function as digitally enabled access points,” the ISP confirmed in a statement.
Furthermore, Farouk Ramji, Chief Executive Officer of Mawingu Networks, emphasized that this infrastructure is about more than just hardware.
He noted, “With that foundation in place, communities can fully participate in education, enterprise, and the digital economy.”
While the Kenyan project is a local priority, it forms part of a much larger global initiative.
Microsoft’s journey to improve international connectivity began in 2022, with an initial, ambitious goal to reach 250 million people by the end of 2025.
However, thanks to strategic partnerships like the one in Kenya, the company revealed it has already moved past those figures.
In a recent blog post, Microsoft stated: “We are proud to share that we have met and exceeded that goal, extending connectivity coverage to over 299 million people worldwide, including more than 124 million across Africa.”
In addition to its work in Kenya, Microsoft is currently scaling similar connectivity programs across South Africa, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia.
Meanwhile, for Starlink, the move solidifies its aggressive expansion into the African market.
Despite facing regulatory hurdles in some regions, the satellite provider recorded 19,470 subscribers in Kenya as of September 2025.
This latest tie-up follows previous agreements with major telecommunications players, including Airtel Africa and Vodacom.