The company described the investment, announced on 2 April, as one of the most significant fintech infrastructure upgrades in Tanzania’s history.

What changed

The new platform reduces planned maintenance downtime from hours to minutes, a critical improvement for a service that millions of Tanzanians rely on for daily transactions. Enhanced security layers have been added to protect customer data, and the system’s transactional capacity has been expanded to handle growing demand.

For M-Pesa agents, merchants, and enterprise partners, the upgrade delivers more detailed reporting, better reconciliation tools, and more transparent service management. The modernised architecture also allows Vodacom to deploy new features across savings, credit, payments, and enterprise solutions more quickly than the legacy system permitted.

“This investment is about futureproofing one of Tanzania’s most important financial platforms,” said Philip Besiimire, CEO of Vodacom Tanzania. “Our customers deserve a platform that evolves with their needs, faster, stronger, and more resilient.”

Broader context

The upgrade comes as Vodacom Group deepens its investment in mobile financial services across Africa. The company recently agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Safaricom for $2.1 billion, giving it majority ownership of M-Pesa’s largest market in Kenya. MTN Group, Vodacom’s main continental rival, processed over $500 billion in mobile money transactions in 2025.

Vodacom has introduced a 30-day intensive support period following the migration to identify and resolve any issues arising from the transition.

The expansion, announced from Lagos on 2 April, positions Business Chat as an alternative to the low-trust SMS channel that businesses across Africa and other emerging markets still rely on for customer communication. Partners already live on the platform include Sling Africa and Globe Teleservices for markets outside India, alongside Gupshup and OneXtel in India.

Why it matters for African businesses

SMS remains the default business communication channel across much of Africa, but consumer trust in it has eroded as spam and fraud volumes have grown. Truecaller identified 68 billion spam and fraud calls globally in 2025 alone. Business Chat offers a verified alternative: messages arrive in the Truecaller app, with the sender’s identity confirmed, along with rich media, actionable buttons, and real-time engagement metrics.

For businesses, the pitch is reaching customers in a channel they already use daily, without competing with the clutter of SMS inboxes. For channel partners, it opens a new revenue stream by enabling them to resell verified messaging to enterprise clients.

“By opening up market access to our global partners, we’ve created a powerful gateway for brands to engage with over 500 million active users,” said Priyam Bose, Global Head of GTM at Truecaller. The platform provides partners with real-time data and engagement metrics to support data-driven communication strategies.

Truecaller, headquartered in Stockholm and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, has been expanding its African footprint over the past few years. The company’s app is widely used across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt for caller identification and spam filtering.

The round, announced on 27 March, also includes Booz Allen, Phoenix Venture Partners, and existing seed investor Cerberus Capital Management. The investment will fund the deployment of what ODC calls the first AI-native, open-architecture platform for mobile networks, built on NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer Pro.

What the technology does

ODC’s Odyssey platform is designed to transform mobile base stations from simple connectivity points into distributed AI compute hubs. Rather than just carrying data between devices and the core network, these sites would run AI workloads locally, enabling real-time decision-making at the network edge for applications such as autonomous systems, industrial sensing, and low-latency AI inference.

The approach, known as AI-RAN, integrates communication, sensing, and edge intelligence into a single software-defined platform. NVIDIA’s Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom, said the technology “is a key enabler of this shift, turning today’s 5G networks into a distributed AI computing fabric at the wireless edge.”

Why MTN is involved

MTN’s participation comes through its digital infrastructure arm as the operator pursues its Ambition 2030 strategy, which positions connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure as its three core platforms.

Mazen Mroue, CEO of MTN Digital Infrastructure, framed the investment as an opportunity for Africa to leapfrog in AI deployment. “AI-RAN represents a leapfrog opportunity to deliver world-class intelligence from our largest cities to our most remote rural villages,” Mroue said. “This isn’t just about connectivity; it’s about building the distributed AI compute foundation required to accelerate financial inclusion, industrial autonomy, and local innovation.”

ODC said it is already partnering with commercial customers and expects to scale deployments throughout 2026. The platform is designed to support the transition from 5G to 6G architectures.

Now in its fifth year, the award received more than 260 applications from 34 African countries, a 13% increase on 2025. The selection was made with Deloitte as knowledge partner, based on criteria including technology maturity, scalability across the continent, team quality, and business model viability.

Who made the list

Fintech dominates the cohort with 12 of the 30 startups, followed by healthtech (8) and HRTech (4). The remaining places span AI and big data, agri-fintech, greentech, and industrial tech.

The Nigerian contingent includes Billboxx, PressPayNg, Trade Lenda, XChangeBOX, and Scandum in fintech and AI; Eight Medical, Famasi, Lifebank, and Trashcoin in healthtech; and 10mg Health, which straddles both sectors. Kenya is represented by Flexpay, Ndovu, iFunza, and Shamba Records. Egypt’s four selections are Sahl, Bwell, SURGiA, and PraxiLabs.

South Africa has two entries: Ubiquity AI (fintech) and Job Crystal (HRTech). Other countries represented include Zambia (eShandi), Rwanda (Exuus), Ivory Coast (Leya Labs), Morocco (DeepEcho, AgriEdge), Tunisia (Cure Bionics, Instaware), Mauritania (Breedj), and Angola (Anda).

Diversity and scale

Half the selected startups are founded or co-founded by women. Three-quarters are classified as scaling-stage companies rather than early-stage ventures, reflecting VivaTech’s focus on businesses with proven traction and international growth potential.

Six finalists will be invited to pitch at VivaTech in Paris on 17 June 2026, with the winner announced at the Startup Winners Ceremony on 19 June. VivaTech, Europe’s largest startup and technology event, marks its 10th anniversary this year.

“This fifth edition makes it possible to recognise those who are driving innovation on the African continent across a plurality of strategic sectors,” said François Bitouzet, Managing Director of VivaTech.

Under the terms announced on 4 December 2025, Vodacom will acquire 15% from the Government of Kenya and a further 5% from Vodafone at KES 34 per share. The Kenyan government will retain a 20% stake and board representation. Safaricom will remain listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Why it matters

The acquisition gives Vodacom consolidated control of Safaricom’s operations in Kenya and Ethiopia, including M-Pesa, the mobile money platform that processes billions of dollars in transactions annually. Under International Financial Reporting Standards, Safaricom’s financials will move from associate accounting to full consolidation, pushing Vodacom Group’s reported revenue towards R220 billion.

Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group, described it as a landmark step. “Acquiring a controlling stake in Safaricom strengthens our position as a market leader, while at the same time unlocking new opportunities to drive digital and financial inclusion at scale in Kenya and Ethiopia,” Joosub said.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa welcomed the deepened partnership. “Their confidence in Safaricom is a testament to the strength of our people, our strategy, and the opportunities ahead,” Ndegwa said.

Kenya government perspective

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, John Mbadi, said the transaction aligns with the president’s agenda to unlock capital without raising taxes or increasing debt. “Safaricom has been, and continues to be, a key strategic investment for us,” Mbadi said.

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals in Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

The USF Strategy 2023-2027 sets out plans to roll out 100,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable, establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and build 1,450 ICT hubs, one in every ward nationwide. The strategy supports the government’s Digital and Creative Economy Pillar under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

What the fund has achieved so far

Since the fund began disbursing in 2017, it has connected nearly 800,000 people in underserved areas, provided broadband to 886 secondary schools, converted 56 public libraries into digital resource centres, and connected 42 law courts to digital networks.

“Through the Fund, we have connected nearly 800,000 people in underserved areas,” said CA Director General David Mugonyi. “The question is not whether we should act, but how we can act strategically, efficiently, and sustainably.”

Next phase

The next phase includes laying 2,500 kilometres of fibre in 19 underserved counties through partnerships with Kenya Power, ICT Authority, and Konza Technopolis. The Authority also plans 47 Centres of Excellence and 1,450 ICT hubs to expand last-mile connectivity.

Beyond infrastructure, the strategy targets digitisation across education, agriculture, justice, and health. The Authority acknowledged persistent challenges, including the cost of devices, limited digital skills, and connectivity gaps in marginalised regions.

“The digital future we envision cannot be built by government alone,” said CA board chairperson Mary Mungai. “It requires a collaborative effort to ensure every Kenyan can connect, learn, grow, and thrive in the digital economy.”

The results, released on 16 March, cap a year in which MTN surpassed 307 million voice subscribers, 172 million data users, and 70 million Mobile Money customers across 16 African markets. Data traffic grew 27%, with average monthly consumption per user reaching 12.5 GB, up from 10.8 GB the previous year.

Fintech crosses $500 billion in transactions

MTN’s fintech division processed more than 23 billion transactions in 2025, with total transaction value exceeding $500 billion. The growth was driven by wider adoption of advanced financial services beyond basic transfers, reflecting the company’s push to build a full financial services ecosystem on its mobile money platform.

Nigeria and Ghana lead growth

MTN Nigeria lifted service revenue by 54.9% in constant-currency terms, while MTN Ghana grew 35.9%. MTN South Africa increased service revenue by 2.0% in a market it described as mature and competitive. Group EBITDA (before once-off items) reached R98.5 billion, up more than a third in constant currency, supported by R3.6 billion in expense efficiencies.

The board declared a dividend of 500 cents per share, up 45% from 345 cents in 2024, and announced a R6 billion share buyback programme.

Ambition 2030

Looking ahead, MTN unveiled Ambition 2030, which consolidates the company’s operations into three platform categories: connectivity (mobile and fixed), fintech (mobile money and financial services), and digital infrastructure (data centres, fibre, and towers, including the proposed acquisition of IHS Towers).

“We are hugely excited about Africa’s potential and are well-positioned to leverage our scale, footprint and brand leadership to capture the significant structural growth opportunities identified,” said MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita.

The company invested R38 billion in network infrastructure during 2025, expanding broadband coverage to more than 94% of the population across its markets and reducing the average cost of data for customers by 14%.

The round was led by global technology investor Partech, with participation from Futuregrowth Asset Management, 4Di Capital, E4E Africa, Equitable Ventures, Summit Deals, the University Technology Fund, and Felix Strategic Investments.

How the model works

Happy Pay describes itself as an ad-subsidised payments network. Where traditional BNPL providers generate revenue through consumer interest and late fees, Happy Pay connects shoppers with relevant products at the point of sale and charges the merchant for the resulting transaction. The consumer pays in instalments at no additional cost.

“If we can connect the right product to the right person at the right moment and remove payment friction, commerce itself can fund the flexibility,” said Wesley Billett, co-founder and CEO of Happy Pay. “That allows us to deliver instalment payments without charging consumers interest.”

The platform has registered more than 600,000 users since launch.

Why it matters in South Africa

Consumer credit remains expensive in South Africa, where the repo rate sits at 7.5% and unsecured lending rates frequently exceed 20%. BNPL services have grown rapidly as an alternative to traditional credit, but most still charge fees or interest on missed payments. Happy Pay’s zero-cost model targets a market gap where consumers want payment flexibility without the debt risk.

For merchants, the pitch is a measurable return on spend: instead of paying for advertising that may or may not convert, brands fund instalment payments tied directly to completed sales.

The funding will be used to grow the platform’s merchant network and user base in South Africa.

MultiChoice confirmed the move on 19 March, providing the first concrete details of where Showmax content will land. Titles including The Wife, Youngins, Law Love and Betrayal, Devilsdorp, and Adulting will sit alongside international and local content already available on DStv Stream. Nigerian series Wura and Kenyan production Single Kiasi are also part of the migration.

What changes for subscribers

Showmax Originals on DStv Stream will be available to DStv Compact and DStv Premium customers, including both satellite subscribers (who receive DStv Stream access as part of their package) and standalone streaming customers. DStv Compact Stream starts at R299 per month.

One notable change affects sport: the Showmax Premier League package was restricted to mobile devices, but DStv Stream delivers SuperSport content across smart TVs and mobile devices, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, LaLiga, and South Africa’s Betway Premiership.

African storytelling continues

Nomsa Philiso, Director of Content for English and Portuguese-speaking territories at MultiChoice (a CANAL+ company), said the commitment to African storytelling is not changing. “Series like The Wife, Youngins, Devilsdorp, and Adulting were created through collaboration between MultiChoice’s content teams and local producers. That commitment does not change,” Philiso said.

She pointed to Spinners, a co-production between MultiChoice and CANAL+ that aired across Africa and in France, as an example of locally developed African stories reaching global audiences.

Willington Ngwepe, CEO of MultiChoice SA, said the transition consolidates on-demand entertainment and live television into a single platform. More titles will be added to the Showmax section on DStv Stream in the coming weeks.

The session, titled “A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Podcasting”, comes amid rapid growth in South Africa’s podcasting sector, driven by increased smartphone usage, wider internet access and a growing creator economy. As podcasts reach larger audiences across news, culture and community programming, questions have emerged about whether broadcast-era regulation should extend to content distributed over the open internet.

Dialogue, not restriction

Committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko said the engagement is intended as a constructive platform for dialogue between Parliament, regulators, creators, platforms and civil society.

“Podcasting represents one of the most exciting developments in South Africa’s digital content ecosystem. It has opened space for diverse voices, languages and perspectives, while creating new opportunities for innovation and economic participation,” Sangoni-Diko said.

She added that the committee’s intention is “not to stifle creativity, but to ensure that as the sector grows, it does so within a framework that supports innovation, protects the public interest and expands participation in South Africa’s digital economy.”

Who will be at the table?

Participants will include representatives from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, ICASA, independent podcasters, digital platforms, legal experts, civil society organisations and academic institutions. Discussions will focus on how podcasts fit within the existing legal framework, possible co-regulatory models, mechanisms for handling complaints and measures to expand opportunities for local creators.

The roundtable is expected to produce a report outlining consensus points, areas for further work and recommended next steps for policymakers and regulators.

South Africa’s podcasting scene has grown significantly in recent years, with local creators producing content in multiple languages across genres ranging from true crime and politics to technology and personal finance. The regulatory question is whether on-demand internet audio should be treated differently from traditional broadcast media, which is licensed and regulated by ICASA.