Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The Gulf is moving to become a global digital data hub, with Ooredoo and regional governments investing in major terrestrial fiber routes linking the Arabian Peninsula to Europe. New corridors through Oman, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia aim to reduce reliance on Red Sea subsea cables and strengthen regional digital resilience.
Qatar’s MCIT has partnered with PwC Middle East and OpenAI to build a national AI ecosystem. The agreement focuses on an AI testbed, public-sector productivity, and new AI-driven projects. The collaboration will accelerate digital transformation, strengthen governance, expand safe adoption, and support Qatar’s shift toward a competitive, knowledge-based economy.
Telenor Pakistan and UNICEF concluded their three-year partnership to advance child online protection, celebrating progress with government, civil society, and youth representatives. The initiative delivered education, policy advocacy, and nationwide awareness campaigns while supporting major research on online exploitation. The partnership sets a strong foundation for a safer digital environment for Pakistan’s children.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has granted conditional approval to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited for its acquisition of Telenor Pakistan, marking…
An analysis in the Oman Daily Observer argues that trust—not algorithms—is now the decisive factor in Oman’s AI adoption. As the country enters the era of Agentic AI, secure, transparent, and ethically governed systems are essential. Strong data integrity, explainability, and compliance will determine how effectively AI supports national transformation.
Oman’s MTCIT has opened registration for the Hadatha Sectorial Hackathon, a national initiative to strengthen telecom cybersecurity and support digital transformation. Targeting professionals, entrepreneurs, and startups, the event aims to develop scalable cyber solutions, boost local talent, and reinforce the country’s digital resilience across critical sectors.
Morocco will build the National School of Advanced Technologies in Dakhla to strengthen higher education and innovation in the southern regions. Backed by MAD 100 million, the school will focus on AI, robotics, and advanced systems, expanding engineering programs, research capacity, and economic competitiveness while supporting the nation’s regional development strategy.
Zain Group’s startup accelerator, Zain Great Idea (ZGI), was named a 2025 Corporate Rising Star at the Corporate Startup Stars Awards in Paris. The recognition highlights 15 years of sustained open innovation, regional accelerator programs, Silicon Valley partnerships, and strong outcomes across funding, mentorship, and ecosystem development throughout the Middle East and Africa.
Nigeria climbed slightly to 97th in Surfshark’s 2025 Digital Quality of Life Index but remains constrained by poor Internet affordability, weak infrastructure, and slow speeds. While digital security improved, Nigerians still pay among the highest costs for mobile and fixed Internet, limiting AI readiness, digital inclusion, and broader economic opportunities.
Zain Group is accelerating disability inclusion across its eight markets with three new initiatives aligned to its WE ABLE 2030 strategy. The company partnered with Business Disability Forum, expanded its GROW training program for graduates with disabilities, and introduced Individual Development Plans to support career growth for employees with disabilities across the region.