In the top tech news in Africa this week, we cover Nigeria’s bid to launch its own cryptocurrency, Tanzania chops levy on mobile money, Africa data centres expansion plans and more.
eNaira: Nigeria’s ambitious bid to launch its own cryptocurrency: According to Reuters, the Central Bank of Nigeria plans to launch the digital currency in October after the country barred its banks and financial institutions from dealing in or facilitating transactions in cryptocurrencies at the beginning of the year in February.
The Tanzanian government has reduced mobile money transaction levy by 30 percent: The levy was endorsed in a bid to raise revenue by Tsh1.254 trillion ($500 million) to partly finance the Tsh36.68 trillion 2021/2022 budget ($15 billion). The money was to be used to construct health centres and classrooms, and to fund other social projects.
Safaricom Ethiopia Gears Up for Commercial Launch | To Invest $8.5bn in the Country: Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC (Safaricom Ethiopia) has today announced a countrywide staff recruitment drive and introduced its leadership team as it affirmed its commitment to investing in Ethiopia’s digital future ahead of its commercial launch.
Africa Data Centres reveals continent’s largest-ever data centre expansion plan: Africa’s leading carrier-neutral co-location data centre provider, Africa Data Centres has announced plans to build large hyperscale data centres throughout Africa, including the North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
Read more: Week 32: Top stories in Africa’s tech news
Read more: Week 33: Africa’s top tech news