In Malawi, getting online has long been an uphill battle. For many, the Internet has been less a utility and more a distant luxury—especially in rural communities, where mobile data can cost up to $2.70 per gigabyte and operate at a slow speed. Most schools had no connectivity at all. Most homes had no smartphones, and most people had no access to digital tools, let alone the digital economy.
But today, across Northern Malawi, something remarkable is taking shape: a network that doesn’t just connect schools—it connects entire communities. And it does so sustainably, thanks to a business model that puts hyperlocal Internet service providers at the center of the solution.
This is the story of how unconnected.org, with support from the Internet Society Foundation’s BOLT Grant Program, is helping Malawians not only get online but stay online.
Two Goals, One Model: Access and Ownership
From the start, the project in Northern Malawi set out to do two things:
- Provide meaningful Internet access to students and educators in rural schools
- Create a self-sustaining business model run by local entrepreneurs and ISPs
The project aimed at empowering the local community to ensure the sustainability in the future.
At the heart of the model are schools. They serve as Internet hubs, equipped with routers, servers, and satellite connectivity. These schools receive Internet access for free, allowing students and teachers to use digital learning tools and access online content every day.
But it doesn’t end at the school gates. Through a mesh Wi-Fi network, the Internet signal is extended to the surrounding community, where residents can purchase prepaid access at a fraction of what mobile data used to cost.
Connectivity at $0.20—and What That Buys
Most people in the project areas had never experienced fast, affordable Internet. That changed when Fast Networks, a local ISP based in Karonga, introduced prepaid vouchers: small, time-based data packages sold for about $0.20 each. The vouchers unlock six hours of high-speed, uncapped Internet—enough for families to browse, stream, search, and learn without breaking the bank.
The revenue from these vouchers doesn’t go to a distant corporation. It stays in the community.
“We wanted people to take ownership of the Internet connectivity,” explains Barros Mweso, co-founder of Fast Networks. “That’s how we created the model. Every voucher you buy supports your school. It supports the network. It keeps things running.”
Local entrepreneurs—many of them trained through the program—maintain the infrastructure, monitor usage, and grow the customer base. In return, they earn income, build local businesses, and help their neighbors get connected.
Thanks to the project:
- 63 communities and over 70 schools are now connected
- 600,000 people live within reach of affordable Internet
- 68,000+ students attend to connected school
- Internet speeds jumped from <1 Mbps to up to 50 Mbps
- The cost of access fell by more than 90%
New Tools to Learn
Inside classrooms, the change has been profound. Teachers now have access to online tools, lesson plans, and educational videos. Students can look up information on topics that go far beyond the textbook.
“The students are more engaged. They are eager to learn,” says Alifane Msowoya, a teacher at one of the connected schools. “The Internet helps me a lot, and then I help my learners.”
For many girls in particular, Internet access has opened a door. One student, Ruth Mwenelupembe, dreams of becoming a journalist.
“I love English, Geography, Biology,” she says. “When we can use that computer, it is very good for education. Every woman has a right to use that technology. We can learn a lot from those things.”
Challenges: Devices, Distance, and Digital Confidence
One of the biggest hurdles has been device scarcity. Many communities had fewer than 20% smartphone penetration. While the Internet is now available, not everyone has the tools to access it.
The project team is exploring future solutions, such as microfinancing for refurbished devices, local repair services, and device literacy training.
Another learning came from the classroom. Many teachers, especially women, lacked the confidence or digital skills to fully embrace online teaching. Some had concerns about online safety, including fears around exposure to harmful content.
The team responded by implementing IT fundamentals training, digital safety sessions, and content filtering tools across all school networks. These efforts helped teachers—and particularly female educators—feel safer and more empowered to use digital tools in their work.
“Young girls need to see female teachers using the Internet confidently,” the unconnected.org team noted. “That’s when we’ll see real transformation.”
Sustainability: The True Measure of Success
This project wasn’t just about connection—it was about continuity.
The goal wasn’t to wire up a few schools and leave. The goal was to prove that with the right model, connectivity can become a service, a livelihood, and a locally run enterprise.
And it’s working.
- Local ISPs are maintaining networks
- Voucher sales are covering ongoing costs
- Schools no longer rely on outside funding to stay online
- Communities have gained not just access, but ownership
The model is evolving too. The next phase may include switching from Wi-Fi mesh to 4G last-mile delivery, which can reach farther and penetrate walls more easily—making it more suitable for homes and small businesses.
The Bottom Line
When students can access the world’s knowledge, they dream bigger. When teachers feel supported, they teach with more confidence. And when a community owns its Internet, it owns its future.
Connectivity isn’t the end goal—it’s the beginning.
And in Northern Malawi, that beginning looks promising.