Issue 49: Telebirr Transacts 2.2bn Br Bulk Payment

Hello, Last week, Safaricom broke ground, a historic milestone for Ethiopia where the monopoly of a state-owned enterprise held in the telecom sector for over a century came to an end. However, Ethio Telecom is not resting and is rapidly rolling out its mobile money platform, telebirr, launching new products, and onboarding large merchants. Welcome to this week's edition of Shega Weekly, where we quickly catch you up with the major developments in Ethiopia's innovative ecosystemIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.

Telebirr Transacts 2.2 Billion Br Bulk Payment, Including Salary Payouts

Telebirr has facilitated close to 2.2 billion birr transactions through its Bulk Payment, a feature that allows institutions to settle mass payments like salaries. According to the reporter, the transactions came from 30 institutions.Last week, Ethio Telecom also launched a new credit service on its mobile money platform called Medaresha. This service allows users that get paid their salary on Telebirr to take loans of up 30pc of their salary until payday comes. Read More.

Safaricom Launches Service in Dire Dawa, HarariSafaricom Ethiopia Plc has expanded its large-scale customer pilot project to Harari Regional State, two days after the operator announced the roll-out of its first service in Dire Dawa City. Read More.

New Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Audio Distribution App Brings Joy to WorshipersMehaleye, an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo online audio distribution platform that enables users to purchase, stream, and download mezmurs (worship songs), teachings, and Kidase (liturgy), has gone live. Read More.

INSA Prohibited the Importation of "High-capacity Mining Servers"The Information Network Security Administration (INSA) has been banning the importation of "high-capacity mining servers" into the country along with other devices that it deems pose a threat to the nation’s security and economy. Read More.

Documents Authentication & Registration Agency (DARA) Integrates TelebirrEthio Telecom signed an agreement with the Federal Documents Authentication and Registration Agency (DARA) to enable customers of the agency to utilize telebirr as a payment option to settle their service payments. Read More.

EthSwitch Welcomes Kacha Digital Financial ServiceEthiopia’s first ever private mobile money service provider, Kacha Digital Financial Service, has joined EthSwitch, the national switch operator. The two entities signed an agreement at the Hilton Hotel last week on August 30th, 2022. Read More.

Review of the Top 3 Online Marketplaces in Ethiopia: EngochaIn the second part of the three-part series of our review of the top three web-based online marketplaces in Ethiopia, Dagmawi looks at Engocha, the second-biggest player in the market with a wide range of categories. Read More.

Guzo Selected as a Country Partner for African Metaverse Competition Backed By MetaAR/VR Africa Metathon, an African metaverse competition that aims to support African XR (extended reality) talent to build innovative solutions, has selected Guzo Technologies as a country partner. Read More.  

Here is what we've been reading:

Nigerian digital bank Kuda is the latest African startup to lay off employeesMcKinsey Sees Africa Fintech Sales Surging Eightfold by 2025DStv’s big Amazon threat in South AfricaIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.