안녕하세요,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Selar, Nestuge power ₦15B creator payouts
- Amazon plans satellite Internet launch in SA
- South Africa wants to regulate podcasts
Amazon plans satellite Internet launch in SA
If space has been feeling crowded lately, here’s another satellite story to add to the pile. Amazon is getting ready to bring its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service to South Africa, and it could happen before the year runs out.
The company, through its Amazon LEO network (formerly Project Kuiper), says it plans to launch services locally via licensed South African partners. Helen Kyeyune, Amazon LEO’s regulatory lead for sub-Saharan Africa, shared the update during ICASA’s public hearings on South Africa’s draft radio frequency plan.
Rather than selling directly to customers, Amazon’s plan is to power local Internet providers behind the scenes. Those partners will handle customers and regulatory compliance, while Amazon works with ICASA on spectrum and technical approvals. In simple terms: Amazon supplies the satellites; locals sell the service.
This matters because LEO satellites promise faster, lower-latency Internet, especially in places fibre and mobile networks struggle to reach. With thousands of satellites planned, Amazon is positioning itself as a serious alternative to Starlink in bringing broadband to underserved communities.
The timing is also notable. South Africa is still debating how to regulate satellite Internet, while Starlink remains stuck on the sidelines over ownership rules. Amazon’s partner-led approach, plus its existing relationship with Vodacom, could give it a smoother landing, just as competition in Africa’s satellite Internet race heats up.
Selar, Nestuge power ₦15B creator payouts
A few years ago, the idea that Nigerian creators could earn billions of naira selling digital products sounded far-fetched. Today, it’s reality. Over the past year, just four local startups paid out more than ₦15 billion to creators, a clear sign that Nigeria’s creator economy is finally growing teeth.
Selar still leads the pack. The decade-old platform paid out over ₦14 billion in 2025 alone and now counts nearly 400,000 creators. But it’s no longer a one-horse race. Newer players, such as Nestuge, Youfanly, and AllAccessFans, are quietly stacking serious numbers of their own, proving that creators are increasingly willing to bet on homegrown monetisation tools.
Much of this growth can be traced back to COVID-19. Lockdowns pushed people to look for income beyond traditional jobs, and many never looked back. Add to that the visibility of early digital creators who showed that selling knowledge could actually pay, and the market began to feel more real. Selar’s decision to be open about payouts helped, especially in a space once dominated by scepticism and “too-good-to-be-true” info marketing.
What’s interesting is that creators aren’t the only ones paying attention. Founders are piling in, too. Selar’s CEO, Douglas Kendyson, sees the growing competition as healthy, comparing it to the early Paystack-Flutterwave days that helped normalise online payments. Nestuge’s CEO, Nelson Eze, agrees. December 2025 was Nestuge’s best month yet, and watching Selar scale gave the team confidence to raise their ambitions.
Still, both founders are realistic. Nigeria’s creator economy is growing, but it’s far from mature. No local creator platform has crossed $1 million in annual revenue yet, and creators are quick to switch platforms if they feel short-changed. The upside, though, is massive. As more platforms compete and the bar keeps rising, one thing is clear: this market is just getting started. For more on what this means, check out Chimgozirim’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
South Africa wants to regulate podcasts
Podcasts might soon lose their “wild west” status in South Africa. The government is weighing whether podcast content should be regulated as part of efforts to update media laws that were written long before YouTube, Spotify, and independent creators became mainstream.
The idea is buried in the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and Online Safety. According to Communications Minister Solly Malatsi, podcasts currently fall outside both the Electronic Communications Act and the authority of the country’s communications regulator. Lawmakers are now deciding whether that gap should be closed.
What this means is simple: podcasts could eventually be treated more like radio and TV. While the government insists this won’t gag creators, except where the Constitution already allows limits, it would bring podcasts into a formal regulatory framework, potentially with content standards and complaint mechanisms.
This isn’t a sudden move. Parliament has been debating how to regulate digital media since 2024, largely because South Africa’s Broadcasting Act dates back to 1999 and the Electronic Communications Act to 2005. In short, the laws were written for an era of antennas and airwaves, not algorithms and streaming apps.
For now, self-regulation is still on the table. Lawmakers point to models like the Press Council and Broadcasting Complaints Commission, suggesting podcasts could be covered in a similar way. But alongside podcasts, the proposed policy also targets big streaming platforms, with possible licences, local content quotas, or contributions to a local content fund, signalling that South Africa is serious about bringing digital media into the regulatory net.
In case you missed it
- This Northern Nigerian engineer is using AI to turn personal lyrics into AI-generated songs
What I’m watching
- 9 Japanese Habits That Quietly Keep You Slim (No Gym Needed)
- If You Have Too Many Interests, You Are Probably Built For The ‘M-Shaped’ Future
Opportunities
- MTN Nigeria is hiring a Specialist – International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Bamboo is hiring a quality assurance manager. Apply here.
- Paystack MFB is hiring for a few roles. Apply here.
- Attend your first tech event in January! Tech Revolution Conference, a two-day event to discuss everything tech, takes place at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos on January 30 and 31, 2026. Get your tickets 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.
- Don’t Miss the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026. It’s Africa’s #1 Business Conference & Investment Expo. It’s between February 3 and 4. Book your seat today 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.
- Are you 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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Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
