Mozambique is strengthening its efforts to promote widespread internet access.
January 15th 2026
Mozambican authorities are counting on digital technology for national socio-economic development. However, according to the ITU, approximately 80% of the population does not yet use the internet.
The Mozambican government is continuing its efforts to expand internet access in a country where the digital divide remains significant. Last week, the government launched a public tender, open until February 25, for the expansion and improvement of telecommunications coverage and access in 300 localities in peri-urban and rural areas.
According to authorities, this initiative, funded by the World Bank, will be implemented as part of the Mozambique Digital Acceleration Project (PADIM). It aims to bridge the digital divide by promoting access to broadband communications and voice services in communities that currently lack them.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation believes that the project “will notably ensure that approximately 90% of the population of each locality concerned has direct access to a high-speed telecommunications signal, facilitate access to information, education and other digital services, and offer the possibility of choosing operators’ networks and services through infrastructure sharing.”
A strategy that is part of the national digital transformation
This initiative follows on from the “Internet for All” program, launched in March 2025 to accelerate the democratization of internet access as part of the national digital transformation strategy. Ultimately, the Mozambican government aims to achieve a mobile penetration rate of 80% and 95% coverage of the national territory.
In terms of performance, the government is aiming for speeds between 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps for 5G, 10 to 100 Mbps for 4G, and 0.1 to 10 Mbps for 3G. To achieve these goals, the government plans, in particular, to facilitate the entry of low Earth orbit satellite operators, companies specializing in telecom towers, and the expansion of the national fiber optic network.
In July 2025, the National Institute of Communications and Mobile Communications (INCM) also launched a pilot project for rural connectivity using satellite antennas. This infrastructure offers 50 km of coverage and the capacity to serve up to 15,000 people. The INCM has also signed a partnership agreement to leverage geospatial data to improve connectivity planning by identifying underserved areas, assessing investment needs, and guiding infrastructure development.
Beyond coverage, the challenge of adoption
These efforts come at a time when, according to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2G networks covered 88% of the population, estimated at 35.6 million inhabitants in 2024. Coverage rates reached 86% for 3G, 84% for 4G, and only 10% for 5G. The ITU also estimates the internet penetration rate at 19.8%, compared to 78.2% for mobile telephony.
While reducing coverage gaps makes it possible for more people to access telecom and internet services, actual adoption is not automatic. Several factors come into play, including the ownership of compatible devices (smartphones, tablets, computers), the affordability of offers, basic digital skills, and the perceived relevance of the services and content available.
Aware of these challenges, the government initiated discussions in July 2025 with the Chinese technology company Huawei regarding the construction of a local mobile phone factory. These devices would be adapted to the needs of rural areas, although their specific features, as well as the project’s launch timeline, have not yet been finalized.
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