Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Egypt and Singapore will expand cooperation in digital transformation, renewable energy, and port development, with Singapore eyeing investment in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Egypt continues advancing digital payments and CBDC plans, while Iraq has launched e-signatures to modernize government services and curb corruption.
Orange Egypt has launched Egypt’s first digital gold trading service in partnership with mnGm, enabling customers to buy and sell gold directly through My Orange app and Orange Cash Wallet. With investments starting from EGP 5, the platform redefines mobile wallets as full-fledged financial tools supporting Egypt’s digital economy.
Bangladesh has launched BanglaBiz, a unified investor portal linking Bida, Beza, Bepza, BHTPA, and BSCIC OSS systems for the first time. Backed by Jica, the platform consolidates services, offers interactive tools for investors, and sets the stage for a fully integrated Investor Single Window Platform in future phases.
Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s largest telecom operator, controls nearly half of the market despite SMP regulations. Rivals Robi and Banglalink accuse it of anti-competitive practices and have filed complaints with the Competition Commission. Regulators continue to face pressure to enforce rules that curb dominance while keeping the sector competitive.
Bangladesh’s new telecom policy has cleared the path for MVNOs, enabling BTCL to launch mobile SIMs and app-based voice services. The state-owned operator plans to introduce triple-play and quad-play services, expanding consumer choice, competition, and digital inclusion through flexible, affordable packages.
Bangladesh’s new telecom policy formally recognizes MVNOs, reduces licensing categories from 12+ to four, and introduces a unified, technology-neutral framework. It sets foreign ownership caps, strict fibre rollout deadlines, SMP regulations, and environmental obligations, positioning the country for greater competition, digital innovation, and sustainable telecom growth.
Bahrain Space Agency CEO Dr. Mohammed Al-Asiri joined the “Golden Dome: Data and AI” forum in the U.S., which explored AI-enabled space defense systems. He emphasized Bahrain’s focus on peaceful applications aligned with UN goals, as experts predicted a shift to fully autonomous systems and called for global regulatory frameworks.
Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME), in partnership with BCG, will host its next Decarbonisation Roundtable in Manama on October 7, 2025, focusing on green energy scale-up and funding. Experts from industry, finance, and government will explore energy innovation, financing models, and regulatory pathways to accelerate the region’s net-zero transition.
Figure AI has raised over $1 billion in Series C funding at a $39B valuation, backed by Arcapita, Parkway Venture Capital, Brookfield, NVIDIA, Salesforce, Intel Capital, and others. The company develops humanoid robots for industrial and commercial use, with Brookfield supporting large-scale pilot deployments and AI infrastructure.
Bahrain’s internet users now benefit from triple the upload speeds and faster downloads after regulators mandated higher entry-level fibre speeds. The move strengthens Bahrain’s digital infrastructure, improves user experience, and supports innovation in a rapidly evolving digital economy.