Fast Networks Malawi has received smartphones from Computers for Enhanced Education to expand digital access in rural northern districts.
The Nokia devices, handed over at the company’s Lilongwe head office , will be distributed to students, teachers, and community members.
The initiative is expected to support digital learning and improve access to agricultural information through emerging tools such as Agri AI, which provides real-time farming advice via the company’s regional Wi-Fi portals.
The latest development builds on Fast Networks Malawi’s digital inclusion programme, which has already connected 67 schools to internet services powered by Starlink.
The organisation has also established more than 20 community Wi-Fi hotspots, offering connectivity through voucher-based access targeting students and teachers.
Access to smartphones will enable rural users to benefit from online education platforms, extension farming services, and digital communication tools, said Barros Mweso, co-founder and technical director of Fast Networks Malawi.
He noted that the organisation is prioritising solutions that combine infrastructure, devices, and digital literacy to ensure connectivity translates into actual usage.
Limited access to devices remains one of the biggest barriers to digital participation in rural Malawi, even where connectivity infrastructure exists, according to company officials.
The smartphone distribution is therefore aimed at closing the gap between connectivity availability and actual usage.
Beyond connectivity, the company has been rolling out digital literacy programmes in secondary schools, alongside tablet and laptop distribution designed to equip young people with essential digital skills.
Integrated approaches are critical in Malawi, where rural communities face overlapping challenges of high data costs and low digital skills, say development experts.
The initiative reflects a growing collaboration between private sector players and technology partners to expand access to digital tools, seen as key to improving education outcomes and economic opportunities in underserved areas.
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