TechCabal Daily – Equity, but make it liquid

CANAL+ is now a a lot larger firm as a result of it owns MultiChoice. The awkward half is that the enterprise it purchased continues to be getting smaller the place it issues most.

What occurred? MultiChoice revenue fell 3% on a like-for-like foundation within the 9 months to September, dragged down by decrease subscription revenue in South Africa. Reported income nonetheless rose 0.4% to €1.81 billion ($2.03 billion), but that improve got here largely from beneficial forex actions quite than stronger underlying efficiency. 

There was some enchancment. The decline slowed to 2% within the third quarter from 3.4% within the first half. CANAL+ cautioned that simpler comparisons with final yr’s sports activities calendar additionally helped, so it is simply too early to credit score the turnaround.

Explain like I’m new right here: CANAL+ accomplished its takeover of MultiChoice as a result of it wished scale throughout Africa, but the 2 companies entered the deal from very completely different positions. CANAL+’s operations outdoors MultiChoice are nonetheless rising strongly in French-speaking Africa. MultiChoice, against this, is coping with falling subscription income in its largest market. 

CANAL+ has began responding. In September, DStv launched a number of unbundled packages in South Africa, after shutting down Showmax in April. The group can also be spending on sports activities rights, together with UEFA membership competitions and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Between the traces: CANAL+’s strongest African enterprise and its latest acquisition are shifting in reverse instructions. Revenue from its Africa and Asia operations, excluding MultiChoice, grew 10.2% like-for-like, helped by French-speaking Africa. MultiChoice declined.

CANAL+ is focusing on €250 million ($281 million) in synergies, but reducing duplicated prices can solely achieve this a lot. If fewer South Africans pay for DStv, the group finally has to repair demand, not simply bills.

What to look at: Subscriber numbers. CANAL+ didn’t disclose them this quarter. Sports rights, unbundled packages, and extra content material sound promising, but the proof of a turnaround might be whether or not DStv can hold extra clients and stabilise subscription income.

Building a telecom community is pricey, and constructing one subsequent to an present community might be redundant. South Africa needs to make it simpler for operators to share the on-ground infrastructure.

What occurred? Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s communications minister, has asked the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the nation’s communications regulator, to rewrite its guidelines for a way telecom corporations share infrastructure.

Explain like I’m new right here: South Africa already has guidelines for infrastructure sharing, but the framework was launched in 2010 and has not saved tempo with the trade. The authorities says the framework must be up to date to mirror how the telecoms market works. 

Why it issues: In July, operators told ICASA that getting wayleaves (permission to make use of public land or present infrastructure for community deployment) can take 6–12 months in some municipalities. This can gradual fibre growth, cellular community upgrades, and make community growth extra sophisticated.

What’s altering? ICASA is being requested to hurry up leasing negotiations and create a clearer course of for resolving disputes between operators and different events, together with landowners. It will even be anticipated to construct a central map of the nation’s telecoms infrastructure. Operators would supply info on fibre routes, ducts, poles, and base stations, giving the regulator a greater image of what infrastructure already exists and the place new networks are being deliberate.

What occurs subsequent? The regulator has to work by the coverage path and develop the brand new guidelines. It is predicted to publish closing rapid-deployment rules through the 2026/2027 monetary yr. If the brand new framework works as meant, operators ought to have a transparent path to accessing present infrastructure and fewer deployment delays.

Aqar Exit, an Egyptian proptech startup, raised $183,000 in funding from Ayman Mamdouh Abbas, government chairman of Intro Holding Group. (Oct 22)

Here are the opposite offers for the week:

• Tactful AI, an Egyptian AI startup, raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Hatem Dowidar. (Oct 19)
• ChipChip, an Ethiopian agritech startup, secured an undisclosed funding from Proparco’s Digital Africa. (Oct 19)
• Neural Labs Africa, a Kenyan healthtech startup, secured $5,000 in funding from Mata AI. (Oct 19)
• Me-Nasoma, a Kenyan AI startup, secured $5,000 in funding from Mata AI. (Oct 19)
• Irrisol Engineering, a Ugandan cleantech startup, secured an undisclosed funding from Nordic Impact Funds. (Oct 20)

That’s all for this week. Africa’s unemployment fee was 6.3% in 2025, but greater than a 3rd of employed Africans stay in working poverty. Find out why here.

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The World Wide Web3

Source:

Coin Name	Current Value	Day	Month
Bitcoin	$81,465	– 1.63%	– 6.55%
Ether	$2,390	– 2.19%	– 14.03%
XRP	$1.31	– 2.20%	– 19.85%
Solana	$103.84	– 1.51%	– 13.17%

* Data as of 05.59 AM WAT, October 23, 2026.

Written by: Emmanuel Nwosu and Yemi Kareem

Edited by: Emmanuel Nwosu & Ganiu Oloruntade