Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Qatar Media Corporation and Djibouti’s Ministry of Communication held talks in Doha on boosting joint media cooperation. The meeting, attended by senior officials from both sides, explored ways to enhance bilateral relations and strengthen collaboration in broadcasting and communications.
Annaba State has achieved rapid progress in telecom and postal services since April 2025, with fiber subscriptions up 46%, 40 new mobile stations added, digital skills training launched, and mobile post offices deployed. The initiatives reflect Algeria’s broader push to modernize communications and improve citizen services.
Teletalk and BTCL owe over Tk 7,000 crore in unpaid dues, with the figure possibly exceeding Tk 10,000 crore. While private operators face strict enforcement, state-run firms avoid penalties, raising concerns of market distortion. Analysts urge restructuring, spectrum reallocation, or partial privatisation to restore fairness and efficiency.
Indonesia has signed an MoU with Indosat, ITA, and Tsinghua University to establish an AI Application Cooperation Center, focusing on education, healthcare, and agriculture. Scheduled to launch early next year, the initiative supports Indonesia’s Golden 2045 vision, strengthens China–Indonesia AI ties, and advances inclusive digital transformation.
Zambia has taken bold steps toward digital transformation with two new bills on e-transactions and postal regulation, ICTAZ’s new 2025–2027 strategy, and a US$120 million World Bank grant. These moves aim to modernize regulations, strengthen ICT capacity, and drive infrastructure growth under Vision 2030.
Google is building four new subsea cable hubs in Africa to expand connectivity and support AI growth. Linked to the Equiano and Umoja cables, the hubs will be completed in three years, alongside investments in AI training, funding, and free AI Pro access for students across multiple African nations.
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has joined the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference 2025 as Strategic Partner. The event will focus on entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and AI-driven solutions, aligning with Qatar’s national strategies and reinforcing its role as a regional innovation hub.
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy showcased its Business in Dubai platform at Seoul’s Try Everything 2025, arranging 86 meetings and supporting seven Dubai startups. It also promoted Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai, where South Korean participation has more than doubled, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a global hub for startups and investors.
Es’hailSat has signed strategic partnerships with EgyptSat and Saudi NetLink to expand satellite services across MENA. The collaborations aim to enhance broadcasting, connectivity, and data solutions, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s digital agenda and Egypt’s service growth, while strengthening Es’hailSat’s role as a regional leader in satellite communications.
The TRC’s Q2 2025 report shows strong momentum in mobile and broadband usage. Mobile broadband grew 15.5% year-on-year, while fiber broadband reached 76% of subscriptions. SMS traffic surged 18.2%, and average monthly broadband usage hit 605 GB. Fixed voice services, however, continued their gradual decline.