Kedu,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- DStv owner wins content rights battle in Liberia
- Tanzania to reconsider telcos’ DSE listing requirement
- Banks in Nigeria face crackdown on data breaches
DStv owner wins content rights battle in Liberia
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Consolidated Group Inc., the company that owns DSTV in Liberia, over rivals Satcom Communication Services and K3 Telecommunications, bringing an end to a long-running dispute over unauthorised sports broadcasting, per The New Dawn.
So, what’s the gist? This whole drama started when Consolidated Group, led by GM Simeon Freeman, accused Satcom and K3 Telecom of illegally airing sports content without the proper rights. We’re talking about exclusive broadcasts of major leagues like the English Premier League and La Liga, which belong to DSTV via MultiChoice Africa and SuperSport.
According to Consolidated Group, these illegal broadcasts caused them to lose a whopping $5.1 million!
The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, confirmed that Freeman, as the official representative of MultiChoice Africa, had every right to sue. The court also found Satcom guilty of knowingly violating content rights, which means they’ve now been banned from airing unauthorised broadcasts going forward.
But there’s more. The Commercial Court had previously dismissed the case, saying Consolidated Group didn’t have the legal standing to take action. But the Supreme Court disagreed, reversing that decision and sending the case back for further proceedings. However, the Commercial Court won’t be awarding damages, so if Consolidated Group wants its $5.1 million back, they’ll have to pursue it through other legal channels.
To wrap it up, the Supreme Court has now put an official stop to Satcom airing content owned by MultiChoice Africa, SuperSport, and BeIN Sports, and even slapped them with court costs.
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This ruling is a big deal because it reinforces the importance of intellectual property rights, especially in the media and broadcasting space. It all started back in 2019, and now that a decision has been made, everyone in the telecom and media industry will be watching closely to see how it impacts content rights enforcement in Liberia and beyond.
This case is far from over, though. Let’s see what happens next!
Tanzania to reconsider telcos’ DSE listing requirement
The Tanzanian government is reconsidering its rule that requires telecom companies to list at least 25% of their shares on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), per The Citizen. The goal is to figure out if the law is actually helping the industry or just making things harder for telecom companies.
Right now, only Vodacom Tanzania has fully complied with this listing requirement, which is part of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act (Epoca) of 2020 and the Finance Act of 2016. Other telecom operators are still working on it, but progress has been slow.
Speaking at a meeting on February 20, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, admitted that even the companies that have listed aren’t performing as well as expected. He suggested that a market-driven approach rather than a strict government mandate might be a better way to grow the sector.
That doesn’t mean the rule is scrapped just yet. Jabiri Bakari, Director-General of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), confirmed that the listing requirement still stands. Companies are at different stages in the process, but compliance has been slow.
On the flip side, experts like Zan Securities CEO Raphael Masumbuko believe listing telecom companies is good for transparency, tax accountability, and giving Tanzanians a chance to own shares in these big firms. The government’s review could lead to a more flexible policy, one that benefits both businesses and the economy.
Banks in Nigeria face crackdown on data breaches
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is cracking down on financial institutions over consumer data protection, warning that banks and other financial service providers will be held accountable if customer information is compromised. They’re making it clear that data breaches won’t be taken lightly.
In a statement on X, the commission said it recently held a roundtable discussion with banking stakeholders to help them understand compliance better. The goal? To boost self-regulation, strengthen consumer protection, and tackle industry-specific challenges.
One major concern is the careless disposal of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) forms. The FCCPC pointed out that some of these forms have been found being used as packaging materials by roadside sellers, a serious privacy risk. Financial institutions have been warned to handle these documents properly.
The commission also called out banks over failed transaction reversals, saying many don’t follow CBN’s guidelines. The problem? Different payment gateways have different policies, leading to delays that frustrate customers trying to get their money back.
FCCPC says it’s committed to enforcing transparency and fairness in the financial sector. They’ll continue working with banks and other institutions to ensure they follow regulations and prioritise consumer protection.
This renewed focus on data security comes after multiple data breaches and service disruptions, raising concerns about how well Nigerian banks are protecting customer information.
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Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
