Telegram is now requiring some users, including those in Kenya, to purchase a temporary Premium subscription just to receive an SMS verification code needed for logging into a new device. This controversial policy is causing frustration and locking users out of their accounts, despite previously convenient login methods.

• Affected users are forced to pay Ksh 200 per week for an SMS login code.
• The issue stems from Telegram's claim of high SMS fees levied by local carriers like Safaricom.
• This problem is not isolated to Kenya, with reports from Uganda, South Africa, and other sub-Saharan African countries, as well as being part of a global strategy connected to Telegram’s Peer-to-Peer Login Program (P2PL).
• Many users who paid reported that the payment failed to process the login, leaving them charged but still locked out.
• A temporary workaround involves installing an older version of the Telegram app (v.11.7.3) on Android devices, though this is not available for iPhone users.

Samsung East Africa has released its own "Wrapped" video summarizing its 2025 innovations, mirroring popular year-in-review digital summaries. The recap details major mobile and home appliance launches quarter-by-quarter, highlighting Galaxy AI as the undisputed headliner for the year, showcasing Samsung's strategy to democratize Artificial Intelligence.

• The Q1 launch of the Galaxy S25 Series marked the East Africa debut of Agentic AI, featuring tools like Circle to Search with Google and offering seven years of OS and security updates.
• The Q2 launch saw Samsung's mid-range A-Series (Galaxy A56, A36, and A26) embrace AI, extending features like Circle to Search with Google to more accessible devices.
• In Q3, AI was integrated into the wider ecosystem, including Vision AI in TVs with a promise of 7 years of OS upgrades, and deeper AI integration in the Galaxy Watch 8 Series and Galaxy Tab S10 FE.
• Q4 concluded with the launch of the budget-friendly Galaxy A17 and Galaxy A07 series, and the highly anticipated Galaxy S25 FE, offering core Galaxy AI and an Exynos 2400 chipset at a sub-KES 100,000 price point.