Malawi Explores Lower-Cost Rural Networks to Close One of Africa’s Largest Internet Use Gaps
September 10th 2026
- Malawi is assessing Huawei technology designed to cut the cost of connecting underserved rural communities.
- Mobile broadband covers much of the country, yet unique-user mobile internet penetration stands at just 12.5%.
- The regulator will assess rural infrastructure needs before deciding which connectivity solutions to adopt.
Malawi is exploring lower-cost network technology from Huawei to extend connectivity to underserved rural communities, as the country tries to narrow one of Africa’s largest gaps between mobile broadband coverage and actual internet use.
Huawei presented the solutions to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) on September 9. Among them is a compact telecommunications site that uses a pole instead of a conventional tower and integrates solar power, radio equipment, microwave transmission, baseband equipment and other components.
Huawei says the system could lower deployment costs and make it easier to extend connectivity to small rural communities where conventional infrastructure may not be commercially viable. The Chinese technology company also presented affordable entry-level smartphones, an effort to ensure that broader network coverage can translate into actual internet use.
The discussions come as about 90% of Malawi’s population still does not use the internet. According to the GSMA’s Malawi Digital Economy Report, published in August 2026, 3G and 4G networks cover 92% and 87% of the population, respectively. In rural areas, those rates fall to 80% and 71%.
About 80% of Malawians live within mobile broadband coverage but still do not use mobile internet. This usage gap, among the largest in Africa, is well above the regional average of about 65%. Unique-user mobile internet penetration stands at just 12.5%, while smartphone adoption is 33%.
Following the discussions, MACRA Director General Mayamiko Nkoloma said the meeting helped the regulator better understand technologies that could contribute to narrowing the country’s digital divide.
“We are very interested in understanding the different technologies and approaches that can enable us to make the best use of limited public resources and connect more Malawians, particularly those living in rural areas, to the digital economy,” he said.
Nkoloma said MACRA would work with the Universal Service Fund (USF) to assess connectivity infrastructure needs in rural areas and examine different interventions that could broaden access in underserved communities.
The regulator has not provided a timetable for those assessments. Decisions on which solutions to deploy, whether from Huawei or other providers, will come after that evaluation.
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