Mozambique plans broader 4G, 5G and rural connectivity rollout under 300-locality plan
August 19th 2026
- Mozambique is rapidly expanding telecom infrastructure, including rural coverage, school connectivity and thousands of new 4G and 5G access points, to close persistent digital dead zones.
- The biggest gap remains between infrastructure and actual internet use, with rural access far below urban levels and only about one-fifth of the population using the internet in 2024.
- Reaching universal digital inclusion will require more than network expansion, as smartphone affordability, service costs, household incomes and digital literacy remain major barriers to adoption.
Mozambican authorities plan to extend telecommunications services to at least 300 localities over the next few years. The Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation announced the target on Monday, Aug. 17, following comments by Minister Américo Muchanga.
The initiative is part of efforts to accelerate digital inclusion in a country where nearly 80% of the population did not use the internet in 2024, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The government plans to provide internet connectivity to up to 4,000 schools and deploy around 10,000 new 4G and 5G access points. It also said 149 localities have already been connected to the internet, while 418 schools have received connectivity.
Expanding coverage to reduce dead zones
The announcement comes after the launch in April 2026 of the pilot phase of a national roaming service, which allows consumers to use the network of any operator to access telecommunications services.
Mozambican authorities are also implementing a rural connectivity project through the Universal Access Service Fund (FSAU), in partnership with telecom operators. In October 2025, the government launched the deployment of 60 new mobile base stations across rural areas in nine provinces.
The government also formally launched the “Internet Para Todos” initiative in March 2025, aimed at expanding internet access by 2030. Over the longer term, it aims to achieve 80% mobile penetration and coverage across 95% of the country, with network availability targeted at 99%.
In terms of performance, the government is targeting speeds of between 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for 5G, between 10 and 100 Mbps for 4G, and between 0.1 and 10 Mbps for 3G.
To meet those targets, the government plans, among other measures, to make it easier for low-Earth-orbit satellite operators and telecom infrastructure companies to enter the market, while also expanding the fiber-optic network.
A pronounced digital divide
These initiatives come as access to digital and telecommunications services remains highly uneven across Mozambique. According to the National Communications Institute (INCM), access stands at 80% in urban areas, compared with just 20% in rural areas.
ITU data show that 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks covered 88%, 86%, 84% and 10% of the population, respectively, in 2024, without distinguishing between rural and urban areas. The population was estimated at 34.6 million that year. The World Bank estimates that 61% of Mozambicans lived in rural areas in 2024.
In terms of adoption, the ITU said 79.9% of the population owned a mobile phone in 2024, potentially giving nearly four in five people access to mobile services. Internet penetration was estimated at 20.5%, according to the same source.
Network coverage alone is not enough
However, the government’s efforts remain largely focused on improving network coverage. The availability of infrastructure alone does not guarantee the adoption and effective use of telecommunications services. Several other factors affect adoption, including the affordability and availability of compatible devices such as smartphones. Smartphone penetration stood at 20.35% in 2024, according to the World Bank.
According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association’s (GSMA) “Mobile Connectivity Index,” Mozambique had a score of 30.1 out of 100 for mobile handset affordability in 2024. Mozambique scored 41.9 out of 100 for the affordability of the cheapest basic or internet-enabled handset. Among the poorest 40% of the population, the score fell to 18.3.
Other barriers include the cost of telecommunications services and low household incomes. Internet adoption also depends on digital literacy, as well as whether users see digital services as relevant and useful in their daily lives.
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