Namaste,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- Telcos could hike tariffs in Egypt again
- Hating office politics even when it favours her
- MultiChoice South Africa and Showmax’s CEO steps down
Telcos could hike tariffs in Egypt again
The telecom sector in Egypt is gearing up for price hikes, with the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) granting preliminary approval to raise mobile service costs.
This move is largely in response to mounting operational expenses faced by providers like Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat, and WE, which have seen their service costs skyrocket due to inflation, higher energy prices, and a 70% jump in import expenses.
Telecom companies have already implemented tariff increases earlier this year, with adjustments ranging between 10–15% in February, marking the first change since 2017.
These new price hikes aim to sustain investments in infrastructure upgrades, such as 5G deployment, and keep the sector profitable. However, this is the second significant price increase in 2024 alone, raising concerns about affordability for consumers in a challenging economic climate.
Some might argue that the timing of the price hike could burden users even more, considering the ongoing inflation in Egypt. On the other hand, others may point out that setting sustainable prices is crucial for the long-term growth and innovation of the sector, ensuring its stability in the future.
With ICT being one of Egypt’s fastest-growing industry — boasting a 14.4% growth rate in 2023/2024 — the stakes are high for maintaining this momentum without alienating customers.
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Hating office politics even when it favours her
Titilola's story of starting her professional journey early is fascinating. After 18 years in the game, she's cracked the code to enjoying office politics — though it’s not her favourite thing.
At first, her role was simple: carrying files and running errands. People called her a “good girl,” but she chalked that up to doing her job well and being eager to learn.
Titilola doesn’t shy away from challenges; in fact, her bosses often rely on her to tackle tricky tasks. She’s polite, diplomatic, and knows how to steer clear of getting caught up in disagreements between superiors — though sometimes, ironically, she ends up being the reason behind the drama.
What’s special about Titilola is her knack for conflict resolution. She has a way with words that calms angry colleagues and helps smooth over tensions. Sure, people say she plays office politics, and she owns it — because navigating relationships and challenges is all part of the job.
For more details about Titilola and her professional journey, read Oluwanifemi’s story.
MultiChoice South Africa and Showmax’s CEO steps down
Here’s a thought: chasing your passion hits differently when you’ve got the funds. If you’re juggling a job and a passion but can’t bankroll the latter, keep grinding at the job until the money situation improves.
Not trying to be overly motivational here, but Marc Jury, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa and Showmax, is stepping down to follow his passion for sports. He’ll officially leave on March 31, 2025.
Jury’s nearly decade-long tenure included highlights like the launch of Showmax 2.0, the SA20 cricket league, and the historic all-female crew for the Netball World Cup. His departure marks the end of a chapter for MultiChoice.
Byron du Plessis, the company’s deputy CFO, is stepping up to fill Jury's shoes. Du Plessis has been with MultiChoice for over 13 years and is no stranger to big projects, having been involved in strategic partnerships like the Comcast and Canal+ deals. He’ll take over as CEO from December 1, 2024, beginning a four-month handover period with Jury to ensure a smooth transition.
This leadership shift comes at an interesting time for MultiChoice. The company has been making headlines with strategic moves, including a new partnership with Sanlam and a deeper collaboration with Canal+, which recently increased its stake in MultiChoice. These moves underline MultiChoice’s focus on innovation and expansion as it fights to maintain its stronghold in a competitive market.
Under du Plessis, the focus will be on driving growth and boosting execution, especially as the company expands its streaming services. With Showmax recently relaunching as Showmax 2.0 in partnership with Comcast, MultiChoice is doubling down on its digital transformation. However, the company also faces challenges like declining DStv Premium subscriptions and rising competition in the African streaming space.
While MultiChoice bids farewell to Jury, who left a mark with his strategic leadership, the company is banking on du Plessis to take the helm and steer it towards new heights. It’s a bittersweet moment, but all eyes are now on what this leadership shake-up will mean for MultiChoice’s next chapter.
Meanwhile, Marc Jury’s exit follows a trend of senior departures from MultiChoice. In April, Imtiaz Patel stepped down as chairperson, despite plans to stay until the Canal+ deal was complete. In 2023, Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle resigned, and Jury took over her role. Back in 2022, Gideon Khobane, the group executive of general entertainment, also left the company.
In case you missed them
- Salesforce, the company behind Slack, has a game plan for Nigeria and it’s all about talent
- "We must start talking with a lot more insights" — Efosa Ojomo, Director, Global Prosperity at the Clayton Christensen Institute, on how Africa can attract patient capital
- Meet Azeez Saheed the UNILAG undergrad who created Naijaweb, a dataset of 230 million GPT2 tokens from Nairaland
What I'm watching
- How Africa’s Biggest Economy Lost 50% of Its GDP
- Why I Converted to Christianity - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Opportunities
- Join Opeyemi Olugbemiro at Pitch Friday on December 13, 2024 and discover the art of storytelling that wins customers. Apply here.
- Flutterwave is currently looking to fill several vacancies. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
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Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
