The country launched an initiative earlier this year to generalize internet access by 2030. By 2023, according to the ITU, around 80% of the population still did not have access to this technology.

The Mozambique Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM) announced on Friday, October 17, a project to deploy 60 new mobile phone stations in rural areas of nine provinces. Implemented through the Universal Access Service Fund (UASF) by the operator Vodacom, the initiative aims to extend telecommunications service coverage to currently unserved areas.

In a press release, the INCM explains that the project includes the installation of mobile network infrastructure (2G and 4G), multimedia centers with public Wi-Fi access, solar power systems for infrastructure, and the establishment of a prepaid public telephone system as well as the provision of 100 mobile phones per beneficiary locality.

“This integrated approach aims to create an inclusive digital ecosystem, facilitating access to public services, stimulating local entrepreneurship, improving education and health indicators, and reducing digital inequalities ,” the telecoms regulator said.

The initiative is part of the Rural Connectivity Project. It comes at a time when ICT penetration rates have reached 80% in urban areas, compared to only 20% in rural areas, according to the INCM. Data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) show that 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G covered 88%, 86%, 84%, and 10%, respectively, of the estimated population of 34.6 million in 2024, without distinction between rural and urban areas. The World Bank estimates that 61% of Mozambicans lived in rural areas in 2024.

To bridge this digital divide, the Mozambican government launched the “Internet Para Todos” initiative in March 2025, with the aim of democratizing internet access by 2030. The country’s internet penetration rate was 19.8% in 2023, compared to 78.2% for mobile telephony, according to the ITU.

Ultimately, the government aims to achieve a mobile penetration rate of 80% and 95% coverage of the national territory. Network availability is expected to reach 99%. In terms of performance, the government is targeting connection speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for 5G, 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps for 4G, and 0.1 Mbps to 10 Mbps for 3G. To achieve these goals, Maputo plans to facilitate the entry of low-orbit satellite operators and telecom tower companies, as well as the expansion of the fiber optic network.

Source: Agence Ecofin