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🌐 NCC explores satellite internet direct to phones

🌐 NCC explores satellite internet direct to phones

Plus:🇺🇬 Uganda Restores Internet

Innovation Village
January 20, 2026

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Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

Access to the internet in Nigeria has long depended on towers, fibre cables, and how close you are to reliable network coverage. But that model may be on the verge of a shift. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is exploring satellite internet services that connect directly to mobile phones, a move that could change how millions of Nigerians get online. Instead of relying solely on terrestrial infrastructure, users could potentially access the internet from space, even in areas where network signals are weak or entirely absent.

For everyday users, this conversation is about more than new technology. It speaks directly to dropped calls, slow data speeds, and the frustration of being offline simply because of location. If direct-to-phone satellite connectivity becomes viable, it could extend coverage to rural communities, improve network resilience during outages, and offer an alternative when traditional networks fail. While the idea is still exploratory, it signals a future where connectivity is less about where you are and more about simply having a phone in your hand.

Let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

📡 NCC explores satellite internet direct to phones
🏦 Kuda Bank to Launch in Tanzania and Canada
🇺🇬 Uganda Restores Internet, Mobile Money Still Blocked
💰Sahel Capital invests in Delifrost Caterers
💰DEG invests $20 million in REGMIFA to support MSME financing in Sub‑Saharan Africa
💰EIB invests in RMBV North Africa Fund III

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📡 SATELLITE

NCC explores satellite internet direct to phones

Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the NCC, is proposing Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite connectivity to expand internet access to the country’s 23.3 million unconnected people. Unlike traditional satellite internet that requires costly dishes, D2D allows regular 4G/5G smartphones to connect directly to satellites, effectively turning them into space-based cell towers. The approach targets rural and hard-to-reach areas where fibre and mobile towers are too expensive or impractical to deploy.

The NCC is consulting on regulatory issues such as signal interference, billing, and partnerships between local operators and satellite providers like AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global. If adopted, the policy could significantly reshape how internet access is delivered in remote parts of Nigeria, improving everyday connectivity and emergency communications......….continue reading

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🏦BANKING

Kuda Bank to Launch in Tanzania and Canada

Kuda Bank is preparing to expand beyond Nigeria by launching remittance services in Tanzania and Canada after successful market testing. The move follows a strong 2025 performance, during which Kuda processed over ₦29 trillion in transactions, grew savings and credit usage, and deepened customer engagement.

By entering Tanzania and targeting the African diaspora in Canada, Kuda aims to offer faster and cheaper cross-border transfers while reducing reliance on third-party remittance platforms. The expansion reflects a strategic shift toward becoming a cross-border financial platform, though execution will depend on regulatory approvals, infrastructure readiness, and effective localization in both markets.......….continue reading

🇺🇬 INTERNET

Uganda Restores Internet, Mobile Money Still Blocked

Uganda has restored general internet access after its January elections, ending a nearly five-day nationwide shutdown. However, key services—including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, social media, and messaging apps—remain restricted under government directive.

Regulators say the phased restoration is meant to prevent unrest, but the continued mobile money blackout has left millions unable to access funds or carry out everyday transactions. Authorities have also warned against VPN use, threatening network bans for violators. While connectivity has technically returned, Uganda’s digital economy remains partially paralysed as users await full service restoration.......….continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

Sahel Capital invests in Delifrost Caterers

Sahel Capital Agribusiness Fund II (SCAF II) has made its first investment by acquiring a significant minority stake in Delifrost Caterers, a Nigerian cold-chain food distribution company. The deal marks the start of SCAF II’s active deployment phase and aligns with its goal of strengthening agribusiness value chains across West Africa.

Structured as a blended finance fund, SCAF II aims to de-risk agribusiness investments while attracting commercial capital, with a focus on food security, climate resilience, import substitution, and value-chain efficiency. Delifrost plans to use the investment to strengthen governance, build institutional capacity, and support its next phase of expansion in Nigeria and the wider region......….continue reading

💰 INVESTMENTS

DEG invests $20 million in REGMIFA to support MSME financing in Sub‑Saharan Africa

German development finance institution DEG has announced a $20 million investment into the Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub‑Saharan Africa (REGMIFA), a debt fund dedicated to expanding access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the region.

REGMIFA focuses on providing predominantly local‑currency senior loans to microfinance institutions, commercial banks, and other regulated financial intermediaries—including emerging fintech companies—that serve underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses. By supplying capital in local currency, the fund helps reduce foreign‑exchange risk for borrowers, enabling financial institutions to extend more stable and affordable credit to MSMEs......….continue reading