Talofa,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- 5G coming to Morocco ahead of AFCON 2025
- Leadership rift leads to truQ CEO’s exit
- SA’s plan to regulate Netflix, YouTube, DStv
5G coming to Morocco ahead of AFCON 2025
Morocco is rolling out the red carpet for 5G. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) just opened the tender process for 5G licences, targeting a commercial launch in November 2025, just in time for the African Cup of Nations.
The rollout plan is ambitious: reach 25% population coverage by the end of 2025/early 2026, and expand to 70% by 2030, the year Morocco co-hosts the FIFA World Cup. They’ll start with major cities and economic and innovation hubs — places that need the speed and low latency first — before branching out.
This fits into the bigger Digital Morocco 2030 agenda. Beyond mobile, the plan includes connecting 6,300 public offices to fibre by 2026 and expanding to 5.6 million homes by 2030. It’s a nationwide digital overhaul, prepping the Kingdom for the future.
Meanwhile, Tunisia beat everyone to the punch in North Africa. Its big telco, Tunisie Telecom, launched 5G commercially in March 2025, using 3.5 GHz and repurposed 4G spectrum. Algeria isn’t far behind; it kicked off its 5G licence tendering in May–June 2025, aiming for a Q3 launch. Egypt has also joined the club. Operators like Vodafone, Orange, e&, and Telecom Egypt began commercial 5G service on June 6, 2025.
Across the rest of Africa, 5G deployments are rolling out unevenly. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa launched 5G earlier, while some are still in trial stages or awaiting licences. Coverage and speeds vary widely, but the pace is steadily picking up nationwide.
Morocco’s plan is part of a larger push across North Africa to close the 5G gap, and it shows that while some nations leap ahead, others are fast catching up. By 2030, a solid chunk of Africa could be riding on super-fast, low-latency Internet.
Leadership rift leads to truQ CEO’s exit
The first time I saw Williams Fatayo’s name in the news, I paused. That surname brought back vivid memories of my staff school days. Williams was a few years ahead of me, but I still remember his younger sister. She was a prize-winner at every end-of-year ceremony. In a school where prize-giving day was loud and celebrated like Christmas, her name came up so often it stuck. And now, here I am writing about her elder brother who, turns out, reads this newsletter. 😂
Williams co-founded truQ in 2020 with Folusho Ojo and Isaac Chikutukutu, building a logistics startup focused on automating short-haul deliveries. What started as a B2C business eventually leaned into B2B, with business clients now making up 90% of trips and 65% of the startup’s revenue. truQ has since raised funds from the likes of Google for Startups, Techstars, and Ajim Capital. But behind the scenes, things weren’t as smooth.
On Saturday, July 12, Williams publicly confirmed he stepped down as CEO of truQ. His Medium post gave us a glimpse into what led to the decision, although LinkedIn shows he actually left in February. The main issue? Tensions between himself and COO, Folusho Ojo, with whom he had reportedly clashed over team performance. Things came to a head when he suggested someone else take over her role, someone with more logistics experience.
From there, it got sticky. Ojo called a shareholders’ meeting to vote on his removal. But with no formal board in place and one shareholder abstaining, the vote didn’t go anywhere. Still, Williams decided to bow out. He says this wasn’t their first disagreement, but this time, walking away felt like the right call, especially since he believed the business had achieved product-market fit.
Interestingly, he’s not cutting ties completely. He’ll be staying on the board and plans to give up some of his shares in the coming weeks. Some investors reportedly tried to intervene before his exit, but nothing concrete came out of those efforts. When asked if remaining on the board makes sense, Williams simply said he trusts that his co-founder can carry the vision forward.
Now, Ojo is stepping into the CEO role. The company is yet to release an official statement, but it’ll be interesting to see how things play out from here. But the big question on probably everyone’s lips is, what’s next for truQ? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things unfold.
SA to modernise streaming and media rules
South Africa’s broadcasting and online content space could soon look very different. On Friday, the Department of Communications & Digital Technologies released the third draft of its white paper on audio and audio-visual media services (AAVMS) and online safety for public comment, with a deadline set for August 10, 2025.
This draft is meant to serve as the big-picture framework for overhauling how South Africa regulates everything from traditional TV and radio to streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube, even social platforms that host video or audio content. The department says the current setup is outdated and no longer reflects how we consume media today.
So, why should South Africans care? Well, if this becomes policy, it could affect what you watch, how it’s regulated, who holds power over broadcasters (like the SABC), and what safety measures are required online. It also opens the door to better protections around online harms, a major concern in today’s digital world.
Communications minister Solly Malatsi says the goal is to make regulations more forward-looking and aligned with global trends. The department has been watching how the EU handles similar issues and hopes to adapt the best parts to fit South Africa’s unique context. That said, the process will take at least two more years for final legislation to be ready.
The white paper will also influence key legislation like the Electronic Communications Act, a new Online Safety Act, and a revamped SABC Bill. Interestingly, Malatsi had earlier withdrawn the controversial SABC Bill, saying it gave too much power to the minister and didn’t solve the broadcaster’s funding problems. Now, the new white paper could pave the way for a smarter, more sustainable model for public broadcasting.
But it’s not just the government that has work to do. The department says input from citizens, industry players, and other arms of government will be essential to move this massive policy project forward. So, if you’ve got thoughts on how SA should handle media and online safety, now’s your chance to weigh in.
In case you missed it
- With a digital services business, this startup is funding social impact projects across Nigeria
What I’m watching
- Are We Cooked? How Social Media Shapes Language | Adam Aleksic | TED
- 10 Subtle Signs Of Autism Most Parents Miss
Opportunities
- M-KOPA is recruiting a Senior Backend Engineer. Apply here.
- Mastercard Foundation is hiring a Lead, Associate Engagement and Services. Apply here.
- Jumia is hiring a Chinese-speaking key account manager. Apply here.
- AltSchool Africa is looking for a Program Associate. Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is looking for a Manager (Public Sector, Southwest region). Apply here.
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Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
