South Africa to launch its satellite in five to seven years

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Delaiso,

Victoria from Techpoint here,

Here’s what I’ve got for you today:

• South Africa to launch its satellite in five to seven years
• SEC can now access phone and Internet records in Nigeria
• Western Cape closes the door on new e-hailing licences

South Africa to launch its satellite in five to seven years

The South African government is gearing up to launch its geostationary satellite, with a new national satellite strategy set to be presented to cabinet ministers soon. The plan, developed by the departments of communications & digital technologies and science, technology & innovation, recommends that the government fully own and operate its satellite instead of relying on private providers.

If everything goes according to plan, it could take between five and seven years to get the satellite up and running. The goal is to use it to bridge the country’s digital divide, particularly in remote and rural areas where traditional internet infrastructure is too expensive. Per Tinyiko Ngobeni, deputy director-general at the Department of Communications, the satellite could also help improve education and healthcare access while reducing the overall cost of communication.

The strategy outlines three options for acquiring satellite capacity. The quickest option is to lease satellite services from a private company, which would require no upfront infrastructure investment. A middle-ground approach would involve a joint venture with another entity, giving the government some control while launching the satellite in about three years. But the preferred option — outright government ownership — would ensure full data sovereignty and security, despite taking the longest time to implement.

Big industry players, including telecom companies, have already shown interest in using the government’s satellite capacity once it’s launched. But one major challenge is the shortage of satellite expertise in the public sector. To tackle this, the government plans to bring in private sector partners with the right skills to help manage the project.

Funding is another big hurdle. While some money will come from the national budget, it’s unlikely to cover the entire cost. That’s why the government is looking at public-private partnerships and debt financing to raise the necessary funds. Given how large-scale government projects in South Africa have historically been plagued by corruption, there’s also a focus on ensuring transparency in how the project is handled.

To speed things up, the team, including experts from the communications and science departments, Icasa, and Sentech, is exploring ways to cut down the projected five- to seven-year timeline. They’re looking at how existing resources from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and Sentech can be leveraged to fast-track the launch. If they pull it off, South Africa could soon have its satellite, bringing the country one step closer to digital independence.

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SEC can now access phone and Internet records in Nigeria

Nigeria’s new Investment and Securities Act (ISA 2025) just gave the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) some serious power. Under the new law, SEC can now access phone records, Internet data, and even the content of electronic communications when investigating potential violations. Basically, telecom companies and Internet providers are required to hand over user data if the SEC asks.

The idea behind this? To make investigations and enforcement easier. The law states that SEC can access subscriber records, payment details, and other relevant information, including actual messages, if it’s tied to a suspected violation of securities laws. That’s a big leap in regulatory oversight, and it’s already sparking debates about privacy concerns.

One of the biggest targets of this new law? Ponzi schemes. According to SEC’s Director-General, Emomotimi Agama, the Commission finally has the legal backing to go after these fraudulent schemes. Before now, they couldn’t properly prosecute operators, which made it difficult to stop these scams in their tracks.

Now, anyone caught running a Ponzi scheme in Nigeria faces up to 10 years in prison and a ₦40 million fine. SEC says this will help clear out bad actors and make people more confident in investing, knowing that there’s actual protection in place. Investors can now breathe a little easier. At least in theory.

This all started when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the ISA 2025 into law, officially replacing the old 2007 Act. The goal is to strengthen Nigeria’s capital markets and bring its investment regulations in line with global standards. SEC says the new law reaffirms its authority as the top regulator and introduces major reforms to make the market safer and more transparent.

While the SEC is celebrating its new powers, questions remain. How will this affect privacy rights? Will telecoms and ISPs push back? And will the crackdown on Ponzi schemes make a difference? Time will tell.

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Vodacom Lesotho expands M-Pesa service to all networks

Vodacom Lesotho just made a big move with its M-Pesa mobile money service. Now, anyone in the country can use it, no matter which mobile network they’re on. 

That means even Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) users can hop on board by simply downloading the M-Pesa app from the Google Play Store. It’s all about making financial services more accessible to everyone.

Vodacom Lesotho’s CEO, Mohale Ralebitso, says this isn’t just about giving people another payment option; it’s a big step towards better financial and digital inclusion. One of the key goals is to use M-Pesa’s credit scoring system to help more people access credit, especially those who wouldn’t normally qualify for loans from traditional banks.

Palesa Mphunyetsane, who heads VCL Financial Services (the separate company that runs M-Pesa), adds that breaking down barriers is crucial. Right now, this ‘All Access’ expansion is focused on smartphone users, but they’re already working on ways to bring M-Pesa to people without smartphones too.

Since launching in 2013, M-Pesa has been pushing for financial access for everyone in Lesotho, and this latest move is a big leap forward. And with M-Pesa already holding a massive 88% share of the local mobile money market, it’s clear they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

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In case you missed them

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What I’m watching

• THE SILENCED DOCTOR: THIS Is The Fastest Way To Get Dementia… | Brain Doctor, Dr. Ann Mckee
• The Science Behind Dramatically Better Conversations | Charles Duhigg | TED

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Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.