• Safaricom has requested telco industry watchdog, the Communications Authority (CA) to block satellite internet providers, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, from operating independently within Kenya.
• Kenya’s largest telco argues that allowing satellite providers to operate independently could lead to challenges in enforcing compliance with local laws.
• Safaricom insists satellite ISPs should only be allowed to operate under the license rights of a local company.

A fierce battle is looming in Kenya’s internet service provider (ISP) industry, with Safaricom PLC, the region’s largest telecommunications operator, requesting the Communications Authority (CA) to block satellite internet providers, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, from operating independently within the country.

This development sets the stage for what could turn out to be a fierce contest over the control of Kenya’s lucrative internet market, as telco heavyweights Safaricom and Starlink vie for dominance in a rapidly digitizing economy.

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• New report identifies 24 leading Africa-focused supply chain innovators who are at the forefront of this transformation.
• These innovators have partnered with over 100 manufacturers and 75 public health institutions, reaching more than 50,000 providers and directly delivering health products to approximately nine million consumers.
• Collectively, these supply chain leaders have generated nearly $200 million in annual revenues.

A new wave of innovation is powering health product access in Africa, reshaping how medical products are accessed across the continent. Despite the formidable challenges posed by economic pressures and declining investments in technology, a select group of innovators is rising to the occasion, delivering solutions that promise to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and reliable for millions of Africans.

A recent market intelligence report by Salient Advisory, funded by the Gates Foundation, sheds light on these trailblazers, highlighting the innovative approaches they are taking to pioneer health product access in …

• Though encouraging that the number of female CEOs has risen from 230 (9.6%) in 2023 to 310 (11.1%) in 2024, these numbers show a tech segment that is still heavily dominated by men.
• Interestingly, smaller ecosystems such as Zambia, Rwanda, and Senegal are outperforming traditional hotspots like South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya in terms of female leadership.
• Between January 2022 and June 2024, startups with female co-founders raised $747M, representing just 11.9% of the total, while those led by female CEOs secured only $289M.

The African tech ecosystem, renowned for its dynamic growth and innovative potential, is transforming. Yet, a pressing issue remains, gender diversity within leadership roles. This year’s “Diversity Dividend: Exploring Gender Equality in the African Tech Ecosystem” survey by Disrupt Africa highlights the gender disparities that continue to plague this burgeoning industry.

Despite recent improvements, the representation of women in leadership positions within African …

• Africa’s evolving telco sector faces challenges such as brand loyalty and infrastructure costs.
• Some of the most recognised brands in Africa are telcos MTN, and Safaricom PLC.
• Africa, and particularly the smaller emerging markets such as Rwanda and Ethiopia are home to a diverse customer base, new report notes.

The African telecommunications market has seen significant consolidation over the past decade, characterised by mergers, acquisitions, and closures such as Telecel’s acquisition of MTN’s operations in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea Conakry; as well as its acquisition of Vodafone Ghana.

According to Robert van Breukelen, CEO of Itemate Solutions, this comes as mobile financial services in Africa have grown with around 435 million (9 per cent YoY rise) active mobile money accounts by the end of 2023.

Breukelen argues that larger, more established telcos are shifting their focus to larger markets, diversifying into mobile financial services such as banking, loans, remittance, insurance, and …

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• Google for Startups Accelerator Africa this year placed a strong emphasis on AI technologies in addressing Africa’s most pressing challenges.
• This year’s cohort, featuring ten innovative startups from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, was selected from nearly 1,000 applications.
• The ten startups will participate in a structured program to support their growth.

Kenya and Nigeria top the list of the 10 startups from the continent that will form part of the eighth cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program.

This year’s cohort, featuring ten innovative startups from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, was selected from nearly 1,000 applications.

Out of the ten ventures, Nigeria produced five, Kenya produced three, and Rwanda and South Africa produced one each.

Google Africa’s Head of Startups Programs, Folarin Aiyegbusi, said that despite the current “funding winter” in Sub-Saharan Africa, where investment flows have slowed, the resilience and ingenuity of …

• Cybersecurity recovery costs post a staggering increase in recovery costs for the Energy and Water sectors.
• The report also reveals that nearly 49 per cent of ransomware attacks on these sectors began with an exploited vulnerability
• The Energy and Water sectors also reported a high rate of ransomware attacks

The water and energy sector have been the worst hit with the rise in cybercrime recovery costs according to a new report by Cybersecurity firm Sophos. Titled “The State of Ransomware in Critical Infrastructure 2024,” the survey shows a staggering increase in recovery costs for the Energy and Water sectors.

Experts from Sophos say that the median recovery costs for these critical infrastructure sectors have quadrupled to $3 million (Sh390 million) over the past year, significantly higher than the global cross-sector median. The report also reveals that nearly 49 per cent of ransomware attacks on these sectors began with an …