Moien,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
- MTN talks to acquire remaining 75% of IHS
- Starlink considers its phones
- Elon Musk’s Starlink launches in Senegal
MTN in talks to acquire remaining 75% of IHS
Africa’s telecom giant MTN Group is in advanced talks to buy the roughly 75% stake it doesn’t already own in tower operator IHS Holdings, a deal that could value the company at around $2.76 billion. The announcement on Thursday sent waves through markets because it could reshape how MTN owns and operates critical infrastructure it currently rents across the continent.
MTN, which already leases thousands of IHS towers in key markets like Nigeria and South Africa, said any offer would likely be pitched near IHS’s most recent closing price on the New York Stock Exchange. But the telco was careful to stress that no final agreement has been reached yet. If the deal succeeds, it would give MTN much greater control over the physical backbone that keeps its networks running.
Why this matters is fairly straightforward: for years MTN and IHS have been deep commercial partners, with MTN as one of IHS’s biggest customers and a key shareholder. The two companies even renewed long-term tower lease agreements across multiple African markets last year, reinforcing how intertwined their businesses are.
Owning the tower infrastructure outright would be a strategic shift for MTN, reversing years of sale-and-leaseback deals where operators offloaded their passive assets to specialist tower companies. IHS Towers itself started in Nigeria in 2001 and has grown into one of the world’s largest independent tower owners, with tens of thousands of sites across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Still, the deal isn’t a done deal. MTN told investors it will keep exploring options to unlock value from its IHS stake even if talks fail, and warned shareholders to be cautious because the transaction, if concluded, might materially affect its share price. For now, all eyes will be on how negotiations unfold and whether MTN can wrest full control of one of Africa’s most crucial digital infrastructure businesses.
Starlink considers building its phones
SpaceX isn’t slowing down. With a long-rumoured IPO possibly landing this year, Elon Musk’s rocket company is quietly sketching out big plans for Starlink that could push it far beyond home Internet and straight into your pocket.
Sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Reuters, say SpaceX is exploring new Starlink products, including a potential Starlink phone, direct-to-device internet, and a space-tracking service. While details on the phone are still fuzzy, Musk has confirmed it’s “not out of the question”, hinting at a device built very differently from today’s smartphones and optimised for AI performance rather than flashy apps.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
Stop struggling to find your tech career path
Discover in-demand tech skills and build a standout portfolio in this FREE 5-day email course
At the heart of it all is Starlink, which has become SpaceX’s biggest moneymaker. The satellite Internet service is estimated to have generated a large chunk of the company’s $15–16 billion revenue last year, helping bankroll Musk’s more ambitious bets, including orbiting data centres tied to SpaceX’s merger with xAI.
If Starlink successfully delivers direct Internet to ordinary mobile phones, it could reshape how connectivity works, especially in places with weak mobile coverage. Still, analysts say SpaceX making its own phone could unsettle traditional telecom operators, many of whom may not want to support a competitor that also controls the network.
Beyond phones, SpaceX is also pushing into space traffic monitoring with a new service called Stargaze, using cameras already mounted on Starlink satellites to track objects in low-Earth orbit. It’s another sign that Starlink is fast becoming more than an internet project; it’s turning into the backbone of SpaceX’s future business.
Elon Musk’s Starlink launches in Senegal
Starlink has officially landed in Senegal, and it’s a big deal for the country’s digital ambitions. The satellite Internet service, run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is now live, making Senegal the 26th African country to get access to Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency Internet beamed from space.
Elon Musk broke the news himself on X, saying Starlink is now live in Senegal and adding that he’s excited to see what local entrepreneurs and innovators will build next. It’s the kind of statement Musk often makes, but in Senegal’s case, the excitement feels very real, especially for communities that have long struggled with slow or unreliable connectivity.
The Senegalese government has welcomed the move with open arms. Mamadou Talla, the country’s Minister of Digital Economy and Telecommunications, described Starlink’s arrival as a historic milestone that aligns with Senegal’s push for digital inclusion. According to him, better Internet access means more room for citizens to innovate, start businesses, and compete on a global stage.
That sentiment was echoed by Abdoulaye Dione, Director-General of the Senegalese Agency for Digital Development, who pointed out that satellite internet could significantly reduce “digital deserts” in remote areas. With faster and more reliable connections, people outside major cities can better access education, run online businesses, and participate more fully in civic life.
Senegal now joins a growing list of African countries where Starlink is already active, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, and several others. As SpaceX continues its Africa expansion, the big question is no longer whether satellite internet can work on the continent, but how much it can reshape education, entrepreneurship, and everyday life in places long left off the digital fast lane.
In case you missed it
- Google opens applications for the 10th cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator Africa
What I’m watching
- Why Compatibility is Overrated: Alain de Botton’s Guide to Relationships That Last | Alain De Botton
- The Unexpected Laws of Personal Finance – Morgan Housel
Opportunities
- Spend Valentine’s Day meaningfully at no cost with Let Love Lead, a free cultural experience promoting unity through art and music, now open for registration on EventPark here.
- Credpal is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Lagos Business School is recruiting a Programme Officer (Delivery and Coordination). Submit a cover letter and your CV here.
- Kuda Technologies is looking for a Head of Product (Credit). Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is hiring a Specialist – International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Bamboo is hiring a quality assurance manager. Apply here.
- Paystack MFB is hiring for a few roles. Apply here.
- Don’t miss the Cavista Technologies Hackathon happening between February 21 and 22. Register your team and go home with cash prizes here.
- Kuda is recruiting a Head of Product (Credit). Apply here.
- Jumia is looking for a Senior Key Account Manager. Apply here.
- MTN is hiring a Specialist, International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here.
- We’re hosting a debate on AI in daily life. Join us to share your insights and perspectives.
- Techpoint Africa is creating a video series where people discuss and debate policies and current events. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations, fill out this form. Apply here.
- Building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect? You can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- Help us make Techpoint better for you! Your feedback shapes what comes next (your responses may potentially save my job. A bit dramatic, but still). It will only take 30 seconds to tell us what works and what doesn’t. Fill it here.
- To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link.
- Have any fresh products you’d like us to start selling? Check out this link here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
