Note #5: Oct 24 - Nov 6 2016

pan africa

• ecosystem Facebook now estimates that Internet.org is reaching 40mm people link
  

• access Eutelsat will continue with 75gbps satellite Internet access for Africa in 2019, but without Facebook link
  

kenya and nigeria

• access Communications Authority of Kenya decides to allow TV signal broadcasters to issue licenses for use of analog TV spectrum “white spaces” to ISPs link
  

• access Safaricom connects over 7,000 Nairobi homes with fiber Internet as they roll out their fiber access pilot w/ Kenya Power link
  

• payments Equity Bank releases EazzyAPI money transfer developer API link
  

• payments startup Chura launches API to transfer money from PayPal to M-PESA link
  

• ecosystem carrier neutral datacenter provider Icolo.lo begins construction on new 27,000 sqft datacenter in Nairobi link
  

• ecosystem Ecobank Kenya closes 9 branches as their customers migrate to digital platforms link
  

• govt Kenya’s ICT cabinet secretary Joe Mucheru pledges to amend Kenya’s controversial “Film, Stage Plays and Publications Act 2016” act link
  

• govt Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) launch fintech partnership to open up a “regulatory sandbox” for fintech startups link
  

• startups laundry and home cleaning startup Kisafi expands from Kenya into Nigeria and Uganda link
  

south africa

• startups Groupon South Africa shuts down operations link
  

• startups technology group Tritech Media acquires 30% of South African parking payment startup KaChing link
  

• govt Dept of Communications claims digital TV transition will be completed by end of 2018 (over 3 years later than originally scheduled) link
  

other sub-saharan countries

• invest Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests $50k seed in Ghana-based Ghalani (farm management platform for agricultural aggregators to work with small-holding farmers) link