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Mexico: Proparco supports broadband affordability by investing in Netwey
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Proparco is making a US$10 million equity investment in Netwey, a Mexican Internet Service Provider committed to advancing digital inclusion. The investment will support the rollout of Fiber-to-the-Home (FttH) access in underserved peri-urban areas across the country. With this financing, Netwey will connect more than 53,000 additional households to fiber-optic networks, and strengthen access to the opportunities offered by the digital economy for low-income populations.
In Mexico, several million people still face either an accessibility gap, due to insufficient connectivity, or an affordability gap, as available services remain beyond their financial reach. To address this dual digital divide, Netwey has developed an innovative model focused on low-income households, particularly in underserved peri-urban communities that have historically received limited attention from major telecom operators.
An Innovative Model Driving Digital Inclusion
Netwey offers affordable and flexible internet plans tailored to the realities of the informal economy through a prepaid system that allows customers to subscribe for periods ranging from one week to one year. Its commercial network also relies on teams recruited from within local communities, enabling a deeper understanding of the needs of the populations it serves.
Since 2022, Netwey has been pursuing an ambitious transition to Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology to provide faster, more reliable internet access. The company now serves more than 110,000 fiber subscribers and continues to expand its network at pace.
Accelerating Fiber Deployment in Underserved Areas
Through its US$10 million equity investment, Proparco joins PC Capital, IDB Invest, Finnfund and Netwey’s founding management team as shareholders in the company. The transaction will enable Netwey to accelerate the deployment of its fiber-optic network and support its expansion into new service areas.
As a result of this investment, more than 53,000 additional households will be connected to the existing network, while coverage will be extended to new areas, including in the State of Chihuahua.
The project will help reduce geographic, socio-economic and gender inequalities by improving access to quality digital services for populations that have traditionally been underserved. The investment is eligible under the 2X Challenge framework, as women account for more than half of Netwey’s customer base, including a significant proportion of single-parent households.
“Internet access has become an essential service,” said Manuel León, Proparco’s Regional Director for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. “It is a key enabler of access to education, employment, financial services and information, and more broadly of participation in economic and social life. By supporting Netwey, Proparco is backing an innovative model that makes broadband accessible to populations often overlooked by traditional operators. This investment reflects our commitment to promoting inclusive digital infrastructure and expanding broadband access in underserved territories.”
This investment is fully aligned with Proparco’s strategy to promote the development of inclusive digital infrastructure. By supporting the deployment of broadband networks in underserved areas, Proparco is helping foster more equitable access to a resource that has become essential to economic and social development.