For iflix, the sale is part of its effort to re-strengthen focus on Southeast Asian market

Southeast Asian video streaming platform iflix confirmed the sale of the rest of its African business unit Kwesé iflix to Econet Global Limited, a pan-African broadcasting company.

Following the sale, iflix will continue to provide technical support to Econet, in order to maintain viewer experience quality.

The Malaysia-based startup first announced its entry to sub-Saharan African market in June 2017.

Eight months later, Econet acquired a “significant” stake in the business unit, which was then rebranded from iflix Africa to Kwesé iflix.

The service expanded to East and Southern Africa, offering a combination of live sport, entertainment, as well as local and international series and movies.

Also Read: iFlix Malaysia launches 24-hour live news hub, with aim to fight fake news

“It has been an incredible journey and learning experience, launching our service in Africa. The acquisition by the Econet Group, our regional partner and Africa’s leading broadcast network, is a significant milestone for the African business, and further reinforces iflix’s commitment to our core markets in Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines which continue to grow from strength to strength,” iflix Co-Founder and CEO Mark Britt said in a press statement.

For Econet, the acquisition is part of its business strategy to “de-emphasise” its direct-to-home service in order to refocus on digital platforms.

Econet CEO Hardy Pemhiwa dubbed mobile connected services as the “future of broadcasting” in the continent.

iflix is currently available to consumers in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Maldives, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Cambodia, Nigeria, Nepal, Bangladesh and Morocco.

Kwesé iflix recently won the Best Innovation in Digital Entertainment award at AfricaCom 2018, leading telco, media, and tech event in the continent.

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Image Credit: iflix

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In addition to UNICEF, we also have updates from Facebook, Clockster, Triple P Capital, and iflix

UNICEF successfully delivers vaccine using drone for the first time – The Jakarta Post

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that it has successfully delivered vaccines via drone for the first time, The Jakarta Post wrote.

In a project in Vanuatu, the vaccine delivery drone covered almost 40 kilometers of mountainous terrain on one of the roughly 80 islands in the country. Many areas in the country is only accessible by foot or small boats; the vaccines themselves have to be carried at specific temperatures.

The vaccines delivered through the drone was used for a community with 13 children and five pregnant women.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore dubbed the initiative as “game-changing” in a press statement.

Facebook reportedly develops cryptocurrency for Whatsapp transfer – Bloomberg

Social media giant Facebook is said to be working on a cryptocurrency project that will enable users to transfer money on Whatsapp messenger app, anonymous sources told Bloomberg.

The company is developing a stablecoin and is currently working on strategy, including a plan for custody assets.

The project is said to be focussing on remittances market in India.

Facebook has been expected to enter the financial services industry following the appointment of former PayPal President David Marcus as head of its blockchain initiatives.

The company’s blockchain initiatives have not been publicly discussed, yet it has been on a hiring spree.

Also Read: Championing Southeast Asia tourism, Vynn Capital partners with the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations

Kazakhstan’s Clockster raises seed funding round – e27

Kazakhstan-based human resource management platform Clockster raised an undisclosed seed funding round from ABC-I2BF Seed Fund, angel investor and Paladigm Capital CEO Olzhas Zhiyenkulov, and one of the founders of the startup itself.

The startup provides a cloud-based time and attendance solution, in the form of biometric-based clock-in device with an “easy, do-it-yourself” set-up.

Clockster wants to use the funding to expand to Southeast Asian markets, starting with the Philippines in 2019, and for R&D purposes.

Impact investor Triple P Capital acquires insurance solutions provider Contemi – e27

Singapore-based Triple P Capital, an impact investor with a focus on non-banking financial services investments in Southeast Asia, has fully acquired European insurtech solutions provider Contemi Group for an undisclosed sum.

Triple P Capital Partner Allan Pedersen said that the most successful insurers today are consistently expanding their investments in IT, particularly around middle and front-end solutions and customised developments.

“These increased investments are vital for insurers to be able to take advantage of all the exciting new business, partnership and efficiency opportunities, new technology and changing customer habits are enabling. We found that Contemi has outstanding solutions and services for participating in this growth market for both Europe and Asia,” he said.

Also Read: Umitron gets US$2M funding to provide its AI fish feeding tech to farmers in Peru’s Lake Titicaca

iflix confirms sale of African business unit to Econet – e27

Southeast Asian video streaming platform iflix confirmed the sale of the rest of its African business unit Kwesé iflix to Econet Global Limited, a pan-African broadcasting company.

The Malaysia-based startup first announced its entry to sub-Saharan African market in June 2017.

Eight months later, Econet acquired a “significant” stake in the business unit, which was then rebranded from iflix Africa to Kwesé iflix.

Following the acquisition, iflix aims to strengthen its focus in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

It will also continue to provide technical support to Econet.

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Image Credit: Kendal James on Unsplash

The post Today’s top tech news, Dec 21: UNICEF delivers vaccine using drone for the first time appeared first on e27.