Months before Starlink’s Zimbabwe launch, government warns against its ‘unlicensed’ use
Starlink users and resellers in Zimbabwe have been warned that unless they secure requisite licenses, they are breaking the law by using and providing the service. Zimbabwe’s communications regulator, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), has issued a warning against the unlicensed use of Starlink. To use the service in Zimbabwe, Starlink will have to apply for a direct license with POTRAZ. It appears that Starlink, whose website states that it plans to launch in Zimbabwe in Q3 2023, has not yet secured the requisite license. Alternatively, the regulator states that Starlink could also partner with a registered public network in the country to distribute the service or require its users to apply for private network licenses. The authority cited increasing cases of “ entities masquerading as licensed satellite service providers” distributing customer premises equipment for the provision of satellite-based internet services as the cause for concern. Starlink has become popular in the southern African nation, with social media users sharing pictures of the service’s router mounted on their premises. Even the country’s national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcast Corporation, has been seen using the service. State-broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has been spotted seemingly utilising Starlink before it officially launches in the country. (Image source:X) It further added that local resellers, even after securing a local license, were only allowed to distribute satellite-based internet services if their virtual network operator (VNO) agreements with the service provider, in this case, Starlink, were approved. “Being found in possession or operating telecommunication equipment/system without a valid license, certificate or authorisation from POTRAZ is a statutory offence punishable by law,” Dr G.K Machengete, director general of POTRAZ, said in a statement. Zimbabwe joins South Africa in enacting much stricter regulations with regard to the usage of Starlink. A fortnight ago, the country’s telecommunication regulator banned the importation, distribution and usage of Starlink services, pending the Elon Musk-owned entity satisfying licensing requirements to launch the service.
Read More
The Blockchain Association of Kenya goes to court to block taxes on crypto
A law seeking to tax crypto exchanges is met with opposition from Kenya’s Blockchain Association. The Blockchain Association of Kenya (BAK) wants to block the implementation of the Digital Asset Tax (DAT) introduced a few months ago as part of the Finance Act 2023. The case will be mentioned on September 28. The new tax, which will take effect from September 1, is part of the many taxes introduced in the Finance Act 2023, with some focused on expanding the tax net in the digital space. The tax provisions outlined in the already-signed act seek to create extra income of up to $2 billion for the Kenyan government. The BAK explained the rationale for its petition challenging the law’s legality: “We are deeply committed to advocating and lobbying for a conducive environment for innovation while ensuring legal clarity. Our petition addresses concerns about the DAT’s impact on our industry and the broader economy.” According to the legal and policy director at BAK, Allan Kakai, DAT has been introduced as income tax, yet it is imposed on the gross value of the asset instead of gains and profits. “This means that people in a loss-making position will still pay the tax. It’s is unfair and inequitable to impose a tax on losses,” he told TechCabal. The Finance Act introduced DAT for earnings from digital asset transfers. A digital asset is defined as intangible value, including crypto and digitally-represented tokens exchangeable electronically. Non-resident platform owners for asset exchange must register under a simplified tax scheme, like Digital Services Tax. Under this law, platform owners would deduct 3% of the asset’s value as DAT. Non-resident owners must remit this tax within 24 hours, along with the required details. The 24-hour remittance requirement could be burdensome for some, and taxing turnover rather than gains might discourage digital asset trading. The Blockchain Association of Kenya argues that the law may hinder the growth of services associated with blockchain and crypto by crippling innovation. “The core focus of the petition is to thoroughly examine the legal and constitutional dimensions surrounding the imposition of this tax on digital assets,” the association said in a statement posted on X. The Finance Act 2023 has since started taxing online content creators. It had previously enforced a 15% withholding tax on earnings from digital content monetisation. Kenya’s parliament later reduced this to 1.5%. Starting from July 1, whenever a content creator is paid for their work, the client must withhold 1.5% of the payment and send it to tax authorities. This change intends to expand taxation to cover digital content enterprises, acknowledging their substantial growth in recent times. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
Read More
TechCabal Daily – Anonymous Sudan hacks Twitter
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy Friday! Whatsapp has finally rolled out a feature that we have all been waiting for. You can now add another number, and have two accounts running on the same app, just the same way you can on Twitter and Instagram. So, using WhatsApp business account for your second active number will be a thing of the past. Well, maybe not right away, as the feature is currently limited to a few beta users. It is slowly rolling out and will be available for the public later. In today’s edition Anonymous Sudan hacks X Tingo group responds to Hindenburg Research allegations Uber launches electric motorbikes in Kenya India wants to expand its Unified Payments Interface to Africa Funding Tracker The World Wide Web3 Event: The Web3Bridge Conference Lagos Job Openings Cybercrime Anonymous Sudan hacks X Image source: Zikoko Memes Anonymous Sudan has struck again. The hacktivist group is claiming responsibility for taking X (formerly Twitter) offline in more than a dozen countries on Tuesday morning. The hackers said that they hacked X to pressure Elon Musk into launching Starlink in Sudan. Thousands of users affected: Per BBC, X was down for over two hours, and according to Downdetector, a website that monitors service outages, users from the US and the UK filed nearly 20,000 reports of outages, though the actual number of affected individuals is likely much greater. In a chat with the BBC, a member of the hacktivist group, Hofa, said that the purpose of the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack was to bring attention to the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The war, which began in April, was due to a power struggle between the two main factions of the ruling military regime. This has led to the internet in Sudan being disrupted several times. Currently, internet access is limited and unreliable due to the ongoing conflict in the country. If Starlink is launched in Sudan, it will mean that people can access the internet even if the government blocks internet access. Hacktivism over the months: The group has been involved in a series ofdistributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Back in June, the hacktivist group targeted Microsoft in a DDoS attack, claiming that the attack was retaliation for US policy regarding Sudan’s military conflict. In July, the group also attacked digital services in Kenya, including the country’s eCitizen portal, used by the public to access more than 5,000 government services. They claimed that the attack was because the country “released statements doubting the sovereignty of [the Sudanese] government.” In August, the group carried out attacks on Nigerian companies, targeting digital infrastructure such as that of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in response to the ECOWAS threat of military action against Niger. Zoom out: X has not publicly acknowledged the disruption caused, and Musk has not responded to questions to launch his satellite internet service in Sudan. Get a working card from Moniepoint With the Moniepoint personal banking app, you get reliable payments every time and a card that always works. Enjoy seamless payments powered by the infrastructure that 1.5 million businesses trust. Download the app. Fintech Tingo group responds to Hindenburg Research allegations This week, investigators of Tingo Group, an agri-fintech company denied allegations made against the company by Hindenburg Research. Image source: Zikoko Memes What allegations? In June this year, Hindenburg Research, a US-based investment research firm focusing on short-selling, accused Tingo Group of being an “exceptionally obvious scam with completely fabricated financials.” The report made several allegations about the company, including that its financial statements were inaccurate, its relationships with its partners and customers were illegitimate, and its mobile licence was invalid. Tingo publicly denied all the claims and said the allegations were a deliberate attempt to damage its reputation, and also appointed an International law firm, White & Case LLP, to conduct an independent review and report to its independent directors concerning the allegations. What are the results? In a new press release shared on Tingo’s website, the company states that Tingo’s financial statements and MD&A were accurate and all required disclosures were made. The investigators reportedly found that Tingo’s relationships with its partners and customers are legitimate. Per the findings, investigators also say that Tingo has a valid mobile licence in Nigeria and does not require a licence in Ghana. The report states that it has paid its taxes in Nigeria, that its partnership with Visa is legitimate, that its NWASSA platform is legitimate and has generated revenue, and that the company’s agricultural export business is legitimate and has generated revenue. Finally, the report notes, that its independent auditors are qualified and have a good reputation, and that the Company’s bank statements are accurate. Mobility Uber launches electric motorbikes in Kenya Image source: Techcabal Uber has new bikes in Kenya The ride hailing company has launched One Electric, its e-mobility product in Kenya. The launch is part of Uber’s move to transition into the use of electric vehicles. The launch of One Electric is Uber’s third product announcement in Kenya this year. It follows the rollout of an audio recording feature for safety and the integration of M-PESA into its payment system. Uber doesn’t own any of the electric motorbikes, Greenwheels Africa—an e-mobility company focused on electrifying motorbikes— oversees the fleet ownership, maintenance and charging. According to Imran Manji, Uber’s head of East Africa,Greenwheels currently operates only a few charging stations in Kenya, but plans to increase them to ten before the end of the year. The electric bikes which have an 80-kilometre range when fully charged will be leased to riders for Uber services. Instead of recharging their bikes, riders exchange depleted batteries for new ones at Greenwheels Africa’s stations. According to Manji, cyclists will be charged based on battery usage, “If a rider wants to swap a battery that is at 40%, they will only pay for 60% of charge at the station,” he
Read More