Bonjour,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Zamtel wants to launch 600 4G/5G 5G sites in Zambia
- 4 African startups that shut down in Q1 2025
- Scam alert or stereotype? Meta in hot water
Zamtel to launch 600 4G/5G 5G sites in Zambia
Zamtel, Zambia’s state-owned telecoms company, is ramping things up with a major 4G/5G upgrade. Over the weekend, the company kicked off the network rollout in Chalala, a booming area in Lusaka, at a launch event attended by Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati.
Zamtel plans to build 600 new high-speed sites, starting in Chalala and eventually spreading across the country. That means faster Internet, fewer dropped calls, and smoother online experiences for thousands of people and businesses in the area.
Why Chalala? Well, it’s one of the fastest-growing residential spots in Lusaka. With loads of new homes and shops popping up, there’s been a rising demand for better network coverage and Zamtel is ready to deliver.
This upgrade is a big win not just for Internet users but for the Zambian economy too. Think e-learning, telemedicine, mobile banking, and online businesses, all thriving because people can finally stay connected without stress.
Zamtel says it’s turning a new page after bouncing back from financial troubles. Now in pr0fit mode, the company sees this 4G/5G expansion as a way to empower local entrepreneurs and make the digital economy more inclusive.
Right now, only 53% of Zambians have access to mobile broadband, and rural areas often get the short end of the stick. This upgrade aims to bridge that gap, bringing tech opportunities and digital growth to more communities, one tower at a time.
4 African startups that shut down in Q1 2025
Africa’s tech ecosystem is still reeling from a funding slowdown, and startups are feeling the heat. In the first half of 2024, startups across the continent raised just $780 million, a staggering 57% drop from the same period in 2023. That figure marks the lowest funding haul since late 2020.
This sharp decline has contributed to the collapse of several high-profile companies. Nigerian genomics startup 54gene and Kenyan logistics player Sendy both shut down in 2023, citing funding troubles. And it seems the trend has continued well into 2025.
One of the latest casualties is Edukoya, a Nigerian edtech startup founded by Honey Ogundeyi in 2021. In February 2025, the company announced it was closing shop, nearly three years after it launched with a mission to transform K-12 learning in Africa through digital content and live tutoring.
Edukoya made headlines in December 2021 when it raised $3.5 million in pre-seed funding, one of the largest rounds ever seen in African edtech. The platform served over 80,000 students, hosted thousands of live classes, and saw more than 15 million questions answered on its app.
But strong user numbers weren’t enough. The company struggled with market realities: patchy Internet, limited access to smart devices, and low household income levels made mass adoption difficult. After exploring various partnerships, pivots, and potential mergers, Edukoya eventually decided to wind down operations and return investor capital.
Internal leadership issues, tough macro conditions, and investor caution have continued to shape the startup shutdown narrative in Q1 2025. Want to find out other startups that have closed shops this year? Read Bolu’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
Scam alert or stereotype? Meta in hot water
Meta is in hot water again in Nigeria. This time, over an in-app warning that rubbed users the wrong way. Instagram user Daniel Adebowale triggered the backlash when he posted a screenshot showing a message that warned his chat partner he “appeared to be in Nigeria” and advised caution about sharing personal info.
Nigerians didn’t take kindly to that. Many felt targeted, accusing Meta of singling out the country unfairly. But the company insists it wasn’t being shady. In a statement to Techpoint Africa, Meta said the alert was part of a wider anti-scam test and wasn’t exclusive to Nigerian users.
“To help protect people from scams, we’ve been testing ways to alert people when they’re chatting to someone new based in another country,” a Meta spokesperson explained. “This included letting people know which country the other person was in and was shown no matter where they were, not just in Nigeria.” Meta says the test is over, and country names have now been removed from the alerts.
Still, the damage is done. The backlash comes at a tense time for Meta in Nigeria. Earlier this year, the FCCPC slapped the company with a $220 million fine for allegedly breaking data protection rules and failing to give users proper control over their data. The fine was upheld in April 2025, and Meta has 60 days to pay up.
To make matters worse, that fine was just a chunk of a bigger headache. Meta has racked up more than billions in fines globally over data misuse, including a string of penalties from the European Union. In response to Nigeria’s fine, Meta has threatened to pull out of the market, a move the FCCPC isn’t buying.
In fact, the FCCPC fired back, calling Meta’s exit threat a “calculated move” to stir public sympathy and avoid paying up. The commission made it clear: leaving the country won’t wipe out the fine. With over 90 million Nigerians relying on Meta’s platforms for work and daily life, the tension is palpable.
In case you missed it
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Opportunities
- Want to exhibit or attend the Lagos Startup Expo in June? Visit this website here.
- Moove is hiring Data and Operations Specialist, Nigeria. Apply here.
- Airtel is recruiting an Area Sales Manager in the North-East region. 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.
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- Flutterwave is hiring to fill in several positions. Apply here.
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- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
