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Billionaire Elon Musk’s internet firm Starlink has teamed up with Mawingu Networks to expand high-speed satellite internet access to rural and peri-urban areas of Kenya.
The partnership will see 450 community hubs, including schools, farmer cooperatives, and digital resource centres, connected to reliable, affordable internet for the first time.
Through the initiative, Mawingu will lead deployment, integration, and operations management, ensuring that Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite capacity translates into tangible, community-level benefits.
According to Mawingu Networks CEO, Farouk Ramji, the hubs are designed to advance online education, strengthen agricultural value chains, support entrepreneurship, and provide access to AI-powered tools and services.
“Access is the foundation of opportunity. By combining satellite technology with community-led deployment, we are securing affordable, high-quality connectivity that allows communities to fully participate in education, enterprise, and the digital economy. Our goal is to positively impact one million Africans by 2028,” said the CEO.
Starlink Partners with Mawingu to Bring Faster Internet to Rural Kenya
Mawingu Networks’ approach will go beyond providing internet access. The company will oversee last-mile network integration, site deployment, and ongoing management, while also enabling digital skills training and fostering institutional partnerships to ensure sustainable adoption.
The partnership will use Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites alongside Mawingu’s existing rural broadband network to provide scalable internet access in areas where traditional infrastructure is limited or too costly to deploy.
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Through the Starlink partnership, Mawingu aims to bring sustainable, high-speed connectivity to some of Kenya’s most remote areas, helping bridge the digital divide and create economic and educational opportunities across rural communities.
The Kenyan internet firm says it will continue developing reliable and inclusive connectivity solutions that support national development goals and expand access for rural and underserved communities.
About Mawingu
Founded in 2012 in Nanyuki, Kenya, Mawingu Networks provides internet connectivity to rural and peri-urban areas using a mix of wireless, fibre, and green-energy infrastructure, now complemented by satellite technology.
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The company operates in 39 markets across East Africa following the acquisition of Habari Tanzania in 2025, reaching over four million people. Mawingu connects more than 35,000 homes and businesses and manages over 200 base stations, with a fibre network that has grown from 85 km to 370 km.
Through its network of community hubs, schools, farmer cooperatives, and aggregation centres, Mawingu supports access to education, agricultural services, entrepreneurship, and digital tools in underserved communities.
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Collage photo of X owner Elon Musk and the Starlink internet logo. PHOTO/BBC