Bună ziua,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- SIM swaps and scams cost SA telcos $291.5M
- Can Kava compete with Netflix in Africa?
- Morocco’s telcos pay up for 5G rights
SIM swaps and scams cost SA telcos $291.5M
South Africa’s telecom sector is under fire, and fraud is costing the country big. A new report says the industry lost a staggering R5.3 billion (≈ $291.5 million) in 2024 to scams like SIM swaps, fake subscriptions, and identity theft. That’s according to the 2025 Telecommunications Sector Report from the Communications Risk Information Centre (Comric).
The report makes it clear: telco fraud isn’t just a tech issue; it’s become deeply linked to broader crimes like banking fraud, impersonation, and even digital extortion. SIM swap scams alone account for around 60% of mobile banking fraud in the country. That’s when fraudsters hijack your number to intercept OTPs and banking info.
Mobile operators recorded 3,600 SIM swaps in just four months, with 108 flagged as fraudulent. While most incidents result in losses around R10,000 (≈ $550), some victims have lost more than R500,000 (≈ $27,500). Digital fraud overall has skyrocketed, from R438 million (≈ USD 24.1 million) in 2021 to a massive R1 billion (≈ USD 55 million) in 2023.
Comric’s CEO, Thokozane Mvelase, says subscription fraud is another major concern. Syndicates use fake details, or worse, pay unemployed South Africans with valid IDs and bank accounts, to open mobile contracts. These citizens, often desperate for money, end up unknowingly helping criminals stay anonymous.
Interestingly, while the number of subscription fraud cases is falling, the financial losses haven’t budged much. One month alone — December 2024 — saw losses jump from R1.5 million (≈ $82,500) to nearly R14 million (≈ $770,000). Things have since settled down to about R7.5 million (≈ $412,500) by May 2025, but the problem isn’t going away.
Then there’s phishing – those dodgy emails, calls, and texts trying to trick people into giving up personal info. South African banks are warning customers to stay sharp. Scammers are getting creative, even using QR codes now in “quishing” attacks. Banks like Capitec have started rolling out tools in their apps to help users verify callers and avoid getting scammed.
Can Kava compete with Netflix in Nigeria?
Africa’s streaming market is heating up, and a new player is jumping into the mix. Kava, a fresh platform born out of a partnership between Nollywood heavyweight Inkblot Studios and cinema giant Filmhouse Group, is launching next month, in August 2025. It’s starting strong with over 30 Nollywood titles ready to stream.
The African streaming scene is expected to hit 46.3 million users by 2029, with 2025 revenues projected at $5.4 million. Right now, global giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime dominate, but they’ve recently scaled back their investments in the region. That’s where Kava sees its shot.
Kava’s Co-CEO, Chinaza Onuzo, says the platform isn’t just about streaming films. “It’s a bold new chapter for Nollywood,” he said, promising to deliver premium, authentic African content to a global audience. “We’re celebrating African identity and creativity in a way that’s never been done before.”
At launch, users can expect to see films like Alakada Bad and Boujee, Owambe Thieves, What About Us, A Lagos Love Story, and House Job. New content will be added every week, and there are already plans in motion to roll out original titles made just for the platform.
But Kava has its work cut out. Local pioneer IROKOtv has struggled to crack the market, shifting focus to the diaspora after failing to monetise local users effectively. Meanwhile, Netflix and Amazon Prime are still battling inflation and low purchasing power in big African markets like Nigeria.
With YouTube becoming an alternative platform for Nollywood filmmakers — albeit one with unreliable revenue — Kava wants to offer something different. Co-CEO Kene Okwuosa says Kava aims to give African creatives a real platform and sustainable income. Whether they can pull that off in this tricky market is what everyone will be watching.
Morocco’s telcos pay up for 5G rights
Did you know that Morocco has one of the highest Internet penetration rates in Africa? Yeah, over 90% of the population is online. And now, the country is gearing up to take that digital leap into the future with 5G.
Remember two weeks ago, on July 12, I told you that Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) opened the tender process for 5G licences, targeting a commercial launch in November 2025, just in time for the African Cup of Nations?
Well, here’s the latest: Morocco’s three major telecom operators — Maroc Telecom (majority-owned by e&, formerly known as Etisalat Group, with a 53% stake, and the Kingdom of Morocco, which holds a 22% stake), Orange (Médi Telecom), and INWI (Wana Corporate) — have just been awarded 5G licences following a public tender.
The decision, approved by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch after an ANRT board meeting, means the operators are now officially set to roll out 5G networks across the country. Each company committed to investing heavily in infrastructure, expanding coverage, and improving service quality. All together, the expected investment by 2035 is a whopping MAD 80 billion (about $8.9 billion).
When it came to scoring the applicants, Maroc Telecom and INWI both bagged 87 points, while Orange/Médi Telecom came close with 85. On the financial front, Maroc Telecom will pay MAD 900 million (≈ $100.17 million) for 120 MHz of spectrum. Orange/Médi Telecom and INWI will each pay MAD 600 million (≈ USD 66.78 million) for 70 MHz.
The telcos are also expected to meet aggressive coverage targets: 45% of the population by 2026 and 85% by 2030, the year when 6G is expected to be commercially available in some countries. That timing aligns nicely with Morocco’s plans to co-host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal. The six host cities will all have full 5G coverage in time for the tournament.
Why the buzz? Well, 5G isn’t just a little faster; it’s lightning quick, promising speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and latency as low as one millisecond. For Morocco, already one of Africa’s most connected nations, this is a major move toward a more tech-driven, future-ready economy.
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Opportunities
- Pitch Friday is happening on August 8, 2025. To attend, register here.
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- Meta is looking for a Privacy Policy Manager, sub-Saharan Africa. Apply here.
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Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
