Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa has announced that his mobile telecom company, Econet Wireless, is launching a new Pay-TV service called ‘Kwesé TV’ within the next few months.
Strive Masiyiwa, Member, Africa Progress Panel, and Founder, Econet Wirelessat the World Economic Forum on Africa 2013. Copyright by World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell
In a post on his Facebook page, Masiyiwa said that Kwesé TV will offer exclusive sports and entertainment programming to customers in English-speaking African countries. The new business will be built around Econet’s core capabilities of satellite communications, fibre optic networks, and mobile services.
“Kwesé” is a Shona word that means “everywhere” and “anywhere”.
Masiyiwa said his new TV service will be a new experience aimed at a mobile generation that is highly discerning on what it is willing to pay for.
“This is because much of what is out there is either too expensive or just not worth paying for,” said Masiyiwa.
Econet Wireless currently operates one of the largest independent and satellite and fiber optic infrastructure in Africa, which will be deployed to provide the pay television service across Africa.
Masiyiwa said the new Pay TV service will be available across all types of screens – smartphones, tablets, laptops and television sets.
The multi-millionaire confirmed that Kwese TV has already acquired a lot of exclusive content for both sports and entertainment and is working on acquiring more.
“The key to this business is acquiring and developing content which is relevant to African consumers who are highly sophisticated and want value for their money. That is what we are going to do,” he said.
Strive Masiyiwa, 55, is the founder of Econet Wireless Group, a mobile telecommunications group with operations in several African countries. He dropped out of the FORBES list of Africa’s 50 Richest this year as the share price of his publicly traded Econet Zimbabwe fell more than 63% in value since last year on the back of declining revenues and new taxes imposed on the company.