A Kenyan internet service provider, Poa Internet, has secured $4 million in debt funding backed by Finland’s Finndfund. Poa will use the fund to improve its broadband network capacity and reach Kenya’s underserved communities.
In its commitment to providing quality internet access, Poa Internet is positioning itself to bridge the digital divide and provide low-cost network access for Kenya’s remote areas. As part of the new funding agreement, Nokia will serve as a fibre technology partner for Poa Internet.
Reacting to the development, the telecom company’s CEO, Andy Halsall, explained that the partnership is significant to make the internet accessible for every African home.
According to the company, the financing will help extend coverage to new communities and strengthen its existing infrastructure.
“Abundant broadband connectivity is a fundamental enabler for trade, education, healthcare and government services. Using Finnfund’s financing and Nokia’s fibre infrastructure, we will be able to bring Poa’s highly affordable internet service to even more Kenyan communities and increase their digital inclusion,” he added.
The Nokia backing will extend Poa Internet’s penetration to new communities and upgrade its existing infrastructure. Also, the partnership is expected to further strengthen the Finland-Kenya relationships.
The funding process started during Finland’s President Alexander Stubb’s visit to Poa Internet in May. The strategic meeting laid the foundational plan for how the Kenya-based telecom company can extend its affordable internet access to low-income households. In extension, the infrastructure will transform communities by unlocking education and business opportunities.
“We are excited to support Poa Internet in expanding its provision of high-speed internet to lower-income areas in Kenya. Improving digital connectivity through affordable broadband supports economic growth and enables inclusive access to remote work, education, healthcare, and financial services,” said Kelvin Kiiru, Investment Associate at Finnfund.
Alongside Finndfund, the funding is supported by the European Union and the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. The Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX), a platform aimed at unifying data exchange and submission, also falls under this initiative.
These projects are a testament to how private sector partnerships can make broadband connectivity and digital inclusion a reality across Africa.
Also Read: Kenya’s Poa Internet raises $28m Series C to expand its connection across the country.
Poa Internet is penetrating Kenya’s remote areas with low-cost internet
Poa Internet, founded in 2015, launched its internet services in Kenya in 2017. Headquartered in Nairobi, the country’s capital, the telecom provider’s goal is to provide affordable and reliable internet to low and middle-income neighbourhoods through its street wifi network.
One of its strengths is its street WiFi connections that allow the company to penetrate Kenyan remote areas and small businesses. This strategy is allowing the startup to effectively compete with giant telcos such as Safaricom Home by East Africa’s biggest telco, Safaricom, Faiba by Jamii Telecommunication Limited and Zuku.
For Poa Internet’s mission, the Kenyan market struggles with low internet penetration despite having one of Africa’s most influential digital economies. A May 2025 report by the Communications Authority of Kenya revealed that internet penetration stood above 40%, but high-speed broadband adoption is still concentrated in urban centres.
Major reasons for the low performance have been attributed to cost, infrastructure gaps, and accessibility. Also, low purchasing power continues to limit access in low-income and rural areas.
While this is a socio-economic challenge, Poa Internet wants to bridge this gap with its street wifi that targets underserved neighbourhoods. With its digital transformation offerings, affordable internet access will enable Kenyans to access digital services such as connectivity and financial inclusion.
Poa Internet currently operates in Kenyan cities such as Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Ngong. It is also continually expanding its network within Nairobi’s surrounding areas, including places like Donholm, Jogoo Road, Umoja, Ngong, and Rongai.
As of the second quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, Poa Internet reported a subscriber base of 238,030 customers, holding a 13.8% market share in Kenya. The company was also the fourth-largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the country at that time.