Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Banglalink has launched a new brand identity to reflect its transformation into a modern, customer-centric digital operator aligned with VEON’s global digital ambition. The refresh introduces a vibrant visual system, warmer tone of voice, and stronger focus on intuitive digital experiences. The company is also investing in network modernization and digital ecosystems to support Bangladesh’s growing digital economy.
Huawei and Yassir have entered a strategic partnership to drive Algeria’s digital transformation through cloud, AI, mobile payments, and advanced computing infrastructure. The collaboration will support e-commerce, smart mobility, telecom, and digital supply chains, while also nurturing startups and young talent to build a sustainable national digital ecosystem.
Senegal has launched a nationwide satellite antenna program to connect one million citizens in remote and underserved areas to the Internet by the end of 2026. The initiative prioritizes schools, health facilities, border areas, and isolated government buildings. It supports Senegal’s broader digital transformation efforts, which include data centers, satellite deployment, regulatory cooperation with the ITU, and expanded telecom infrastructure.
Huawei and MTN Nigeria have completed the first commercial deployment of Huawei’s RuralCow mobile base station, designed for rapid rollout in rural regions. The solution drastically reduces power use, installation complexity, and deployment costs while extending coverage to remote communities. It shortens rural network ROI to around three years.
Beeline Kazakhstan has begun building a Tier III hyperscale data centre in Almaty to power the country’s sovereign cloud, AI, and enterprise digital services. The facility will offer a wide range of cloud services for SMEs, ensure data sovereignty, and support AI and blockchain growth. It is set to go live by the end of 2026.
Vodafone Qatar has launched a unified biometric eKYC platform powered by Innovatrics to enable fully remote onboarding for SIMs, eSIMs, wallets, and service changes. The system improves security with liveness detection, reduces reliance on physical stores, and reflects a broader global shift toward biometric-based digital identity and SIM registration.
Nigeria’s teledensity climbed to nearly 81 percent in October 2025 as active subscriptions reached 175 million, driven by over 1.5 million newly activated SIMs. Despite a 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs earlier in the year, Nigerians continued to consume record volumes of data, spending around ₦2.5 trillion between February and September. 4G remains the dominant technology, while broadband penetration reached almost 50 percent. Operators such as MTN and Airtel recorded sharp growth in data revenues, highlighting Nigeria’s resilient appetite for digital connectivity despite rising costs.
This new UAE scholarship reflects a major strategic investment in future artificial intelligence leadership. By supporting hundreds of outstanding undergraduate students at MBZUAI, the programme combines financial backing with global exposure, industry placements, and mentorship. It reinforces the UAE’s commitment to building national AI talent, driving innovation, and securing global competitiveness in advanced technologies through education, leadership development, and entrepreneurship.
MAM Telecom, a Ugandan fintech focused on solving mobile money float shortages, has been selected for FasterCapital’s EquityPilot program to raise $5 million in seed funding. The startup is building East Africa’s first 24/7 digital liquidity platform to provide instant mobile money float to agents and merchants. The funding will support licensing, technology, reserves, hiring, and nationwide rollout starting in 2026. The initiative addresses a major gap in Uganda’s fast-growing mobile money economy.
Salam Telecom’s #YestoPossible campaign marks a strategic pivot toward Gen Z by transforming telecom services into a lifestyle-driven digital ecosystem. The initiative positions connectivity as a platform for creativity, gaming, content, and social interaction rather than basic communication. By tapping into youth culture and digital-first behavior, Salam is redefining how telecom brands engage younger audiences in Saudi Arabia. The campaign also aligns with national digital transformation goals, reinforcing Salam’s role in shaping the future of youth-centric digital experiences across the Kingdom.