This Week: Layoffs, taxes, bandits and memes

Editor’s Notice

Week 31, 2022
Learn time: 5 minutes

Sadly, the tech lay-offs proceed unabated. In the meantime, the Nigerian authorities plans to extend VAT on cellular providers. As you comply with these unpalatable tales, I hope they don’t dampen your weekend. Shield your peace. ❤

Kelechi Njoku,
Senior Editor, TechCabal.

Editor’s Picks

	Elevated price of calls, SMS, and knowledge What retains going up? The price of the whole lot. Calls, SMS, and knowledge are about to get costlier in Nigeria. In a scramble to get extra non-oil income, the federal government is ready to impose an extra 5% tax on these. Read more on TechCabal.
	Sendy lays off 10% of its workers Logistics startup Sendy has despatched 10% of its 300-strong workforce house. Following the footsteps of African startups like Vezeeta and Swvl, the corporate is thinning its operational workers to answer the present financial downturn impacting tech corporations globally. Learn more on TechCabal.
	OpenServe splits from Telkom Group In a “break-up” value celebrating, internet-providing subsidiary OpenServe is splitting from Telkom Group to turn out to be a standalone subsidiary. The newfound autonomy will give OpenServe extra market visibility and incomes potential. More details are on TechCabal.
	Instagram’s NFT help involves Africa NFTs are prepared for the world of social media. Are you prepared for it? Regardless of the web3 hacks and cryptocurrency dips, the social media companies are executing their plans to undertake NFTs. Instagram’s NFT Assist might be rolling out to about 100 nations in a number of continents together with Africa. Read more on TechCrunch.
	MTN to slash 136 staff MTN will nonetheless be all over the place you go however 136 staff shorter. The telecom firm will slash 136 staff because it begins the deliberate restructuring of its operations. Full details are on MyBroadband.
	Corporates warned about utilizing memes Thoughts your memes— it may be another person’s enterprise. The Kenya Copyright Board has warned that memes are mental properties and shouldn’t be generated or used for industrial functions with out the permission of the copyright homeowners. Learn more on Citizen Digital.

	Amazon Prime will get its first Nigerian unique films. Launching its first native advertising marketing campaign within the nation, Amazon Prime Video has revealed its first Nigerian originals. They’re against the law thriller, Gangs Of Lagos; and a comedy sequence, LOL: Final One Laughing. The news is on Screen Daily.

Companion Content material

Need to be a tech bro? Then you must look the half. Start your journey with TehCabal Merch.

	MultiChoice and others fined for airing BBC report on banditry MultiChoice could also be regretting its option to air the current BBC report on banditry in Nigeria on DStv. Nigeria’s Nationwide Broadcasting Fee has fined MultiChoice and others for broadcasting the report. The nation’s regulators assume it glorifies bandits and undermines nationwide safety. More details are on Reuters.
	DStv ordered to reinstate axed eMedia TV channels After a short-lived victory over eMedia within the Competitors Tribunal, DStv has misplaced the following court docket case on the competitors excessive court docket. Now it has to return 4 eMedia TV channels which it minimize off from its satellite tv for pc TV service. Learn more on TechCentral.
	The ANC requires shutdown of 2G and 3G Out with the outdated, in with the brand new! South Africa’s ruling get together, African Nationwide Congress (ANC), is advising the authorities to close down 2G and 3G connectivity. That is in a bid to modernise South Africa’s cellular networks. Learn more on MyBroadband.
	13,000 Egyptians in cellular sports activities event The English Premier League is on, however have you ever heard of a cellular sports activities event? It’s precisely what it seems like—a sports activities event performed totally on the telephone. It’s about to open in Egypt and 13,000 have already utilized. Learn more on Ventureburn.
	ANC to control Netflix and Disney+ in SA Within the spirit of honest competitors, South Africa’s African Nationwide Congress (ANC) has proposed that the South African authorities regulate and tax streaming providers like Amazon, Disney+, Netflix, and so forth . This may stage the taking part in discipline for native streaming providers—and doubtless enhance the price of utilizing the platforms. Learn more on Cybera.
	Airtel to roll out 5G community Airtel will roll out 5G providers in August. The community is working with know-how companions Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung to begin 5G deployment for it’s clients. Read the news on TechMoran.

Who introduced the cash this week?

This week, Homzmart, a web based retail startup based mostly in Egypt, raised $23 million in a pre-series B spherical.
Kenya-based insurtech startup Lami Applied sciences closed a $ 3.7 thousands and thousands seed extension in a spherical led by Harlem Capital.
Cape City-based gaming startup, Skrmiish, raised a $2.5 million seed spherical.
Youverify, an id verification firm secured a $1 million seed spherical extension, bringing its whole seed increase to $2.5 million.
South African auto restore platform Michanic secured $400k in debt capital from the MultiChoice Innovation Fund.