💵 CBN Cracks Down on POS Devices Across Nigeria

Today’s Menu ☕️

💵 Nigeria’s POS Market Faces Shake-Up as CBN Imposes ISO 20022 and Geo-Tagging Rules
📶 T2 Mobile posts first subscriber gain in two years as Nigerian telecom market contracts
🛒 Jumia proposes Axian Telecom founder Hassanein Hiridjee for Supervisory Board amid acquisition speculation
💰 Finnfund invests $4M in Poa Internet to expand affordable broadband in Kenya
📶 MTN Beats Vodacom to Lead South Africa’s 2025 Voice Network Rankings 📱Apple’s iPhone 17 Event Set for September 9

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💵FINANCIAL SERVICES

Nigeria’s POS Market Faces Shake-Up as CBN Imposes ISO 20022 and Geo-Tagging Rules

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated all licensed payment operators to fully adopt ISO 20022 messaging standards and implement geo-tagging on all POS terminals. By October 31, 2025, payment messages must comply with ISO 20022, requiring system upgrades and certification through the National Central Switch. In addition, POS devices must be geo-tagged with double-frequency GPS and operate strictly within a 10-metre geofence of their registered location.

Operators face tight deadlines—60 days from August 25, 2025, to geo-tag existing terminals—and must upgrade devices to at least Android OS V10. These changes will increase compliance costs, limit mobile POS agents’ flexibility, and may push smaller operators out of the market. However, they promise stronger security, reduced fraud, and alignment with global payment standards, ultimately enhancing Nigeria’s cashless payment ecosystem....…continue reading

📶 TELECOMS

T2 Mobile posts first subscriber gain in two years as Nigerian telecom market contracts

In July 2025, Nigeria’s telecom sector lost 2.4 million subscribers, but T2 Mobile (formerly 9mobile) bucked the trend with its first growth in 20 months. The operator added 290,601 users, raising its base to 2.7 million and nudging market share from 1.4% to 1.6%.

The rebound follows T2’s August rebrand and a roaming deal with MTN Nigeria, giving its customers access to MTN’s extensive network. Meanwhile, Airtel (-2.4M), Glo (-143K), and MTN (-106K) all recorded declines, partly due to NCC’s ongoing subscriber audit and new rules under the Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy.…continue reading

 🛒 ECOMMERCE

Jumia proposes Axian Telecom founder Hassanein Hiridjee for Supervisory Board amid acquisition speculation

Jumia has petitioned to appoint Hassanein Hiridjee, founder of Axian Telecom, to its Supervisory Board following the resignations of two members that left the board below the required six. Shareholders had previously rejected a proposal to shrink the board to five. Hiridjee’s appointment would restore the board to five members, with one seat still vacant.

Axian, now Jumia’s second-largest shareholder with a 9.97% stake, has fueled takeover speculation, driving Jumia’s stock to a 52-week high of $8.68. Rumors of a buyout emerged after Bloomberg reported Axian’s $600 million bond issuance could fund a major acquisition.

While Jumia CEO Francis Dufay and Axian have avoided confirming acquisition talks, both companies have hinted at closer collaboration, particularly around JumiaPay. Analysts say Axian’s involvement could provide fresh capital and strategic partnerships, bolstering Jumia’s push toward profitability in Africa’s e-commerce market..…..continue reading

💰 INVESTMENTS

Finnfund invests $4M in Poa Internet to expand affordable broadband in Kenya

Finnfund, the Finnish development financier and impact investor, has committed $4 million in debt financing to Poa Internet, a Kenyan ISP delivering affordable broadband to underserved communities. The investment, backed by the EU and EFSD+, will accelerate Poa’s expansion of high-speed internet in low-income areas.

Nokia, Poa’s fibre technology partner, provides the backbone for this expansion. Poa CEO Andy Halsall said the partnership will extend affordable internet to more Kenyan communities, boosting digital inclusion. With Finnfund’s support, Poa aims to scale operations, bridge the digital divide, and unlock opportunities for millions of Kenyans.........continue reading

📶TELECOMS

MTN Beats Vodacom to Lead South Africa’s 2025 Voice Network Rankings

MTN has been ranked South Africa’s most reliable voice call provider in the newly released 2025 Mobile Voice Network Quality Report by MyBroadband Insights. Based on over 34,000 test calls across 10,000km, MTN scored 77.47 points—outperforming Vodacom, Rain, Telkom, and Cell C—thanks to the lowest dropped-call rate and highest call setup success ratio.

Vodacom followed closely with 75.09 points, excelling in call setup speed, while Rain and Telkom tied for third with mid-60 scores. Cell C, however, lagged significantly at 34.09 due to reliability issues. The findings highlight that, despite the rise of data-first services, millions of South Africans still prioritize clear and dependable voice connections—cementing MTN’s edge in consistency and consumer trust......…continue reading

📱GADGETS

Apple’s iPhone 17 Event Set for September 9

Apple has announced its 2025 fall event for September 9 at 7 PM CAT / 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT, with the tagline “awe dropping.” The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to headline, including a new ultra-thin and ultra-light iPhone 17 Air, alongside the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max.

The base iPhone 17 may feature a larger 6.3-inch, 120Hz display. Updates to the Apple Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, SE 3, and AirPods are also anticipated. On the software front, iOS 26, already in public beta, will be fully showcased. The event promises major hardware and ecosystem announcements.....continue reading

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