06 June 2023

Microsoft has signed new agreements with internet service providers Mawingu and Tizeti with the goal to connect 20 million people to the internet in Africa by 2025.

Mawingu, which is mainly active in East Africa, will bring broadband connectivity to an additional 16 million people in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Tizeti, a Nigerian start-up specialising in providing solar-powered network wireless internet connectivity, is expected to connect nearly 5 million people in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

This initiative is part of Microsoft’s ‘Airband’ program. Launched in 2017, it aims to advance access to affordable internet and essential digital skills worldwide through partnerships with industry players. Through this initiative, the company intends to extend high-speed internet connectivity to 250 million people worldwide, including 100 million on the African continent by 2025.

“Through the partnership with Microsoft’s Airband initiative, organizations gain additional support to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver connectivity support across many different ecosystems that ultimately enable the empowerment and sustainable development and growth. These partnerships are key to providing the local expertise and experience to achieve a bigger goal related to what can be leveraged with the support of connectivity,” said Vickie Robinson, CEO of Airband Initiative.