Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan’s IT exports reached $374 million in January 2026, growing 19% year-on-year. As Microsoft plans a $50 billion AI investment across the Global South, experts say regulatory clarity, stronger data protection, and faster implementation could help Pakistan attract investment and reach its $10 billion IT export target.
JazzWorld’s leadership joined global fintech discussions at Mobile World Congress 2026, highlighting how AI can expand financial inclusion in emerging markets. CEO Aamir Ibrahim emphasized trust, transparency and responsible innovation as key pillars for scaling intelligent finance and bringing millions of unbanked individuals into the digital economy.
Pakistan’s mobile subscribers crossed 225 million after more than two million new users joined in January 2026. PTA data shows continued growth in 3G/4G adoption, rising penetration rates, and improved teledensity, reflecting expanding digital connectivity and stronger telecom sector momentum across urban and rural areas.
Nepal’s upcoming elections are being shaped by AI-generated disinformation, with political parties leveraging social media to influence voters. Low digital literacy and limited monitoring capacity make it difficult to distinguish real from fake content, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Charikaty, Morocco’s first fully digital legaltech platform, simplifies company formation and business lifecycle management. Serving founders, SMEs, and ecosystem partners, it centralizes legal and administrative services, reduces bureaucracy, and aims to expand across emerging markets by 2030.
Nigerian telecom operators may soon be required to give subscribers 14 days’ notice before SIM disconnection. The move, part of the NCC’s TIRMS rollout, aims to reduce fraud and ensure accountability in managing churned or inactive mobile numbers.
Weego raises $1.1 million from Azur Innovation Fund to expand its multimodal transport platform in Morocco and beyond, connecting public and private transport, improving urban mobility, and offering solutions for businesses.
stc leads Middle East telecoms with a brand value of USD 17.6 billion and the region’s strongest BSI score, while Zain, du, and Mobily also showed significant growth. Middle Eastern telecoms are expanding into fintech, cloud, and digital services, boosting global competitiveness.
Viva provides free roaming Internet, calls, and SMS for subscribers in Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE until further notice, including local calls and calls to Armenia.
Algeria has launched an EU-backed agritech incubator and accelerator programme to support start-ups using AI, IoT, and drone technology in agriculture. The initiative aims to modernize farming practices, enhance precision agriculture, and foster innovation in the sector.