Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Ransomware attacks have surged across Africa in 2024, with Nigeria ranking third in threat detections. High-profile incidents impacted finance, government, energy, and telecom sectors, involving notorious gangs like LockBit, Hunters, and BlackSuit. The growing digital economy faces escalating cyber risks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity defenses.
Zain KSA has named Eng. Saad bin Abdulrahman AlSadhan as its CEO, following his tenure as Acting CEO. With over two decades in telecom and IT, AlSadhan has been instrumental in expanding Zain’s B2B sector, launching cloud solutions, and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital goals. His appointment underscores Zain’s commitment to innovation and growth.
Palestine Telecom reports that Israeli aggression has destroyed nearly three-quarters of Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure, causing massive economic losses and service disruptions. Calls for urgent international action to protect and rebuild digital infrastructure are intensifying amid ongoing conflict and network challenges in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Rakuten partners with MENA E-Sports & Events to launch Arabic versions of its digital comics on MangaOasis, targeting the rapidly growing Middle East and Africa market. Initial titles include “Samurai Shinken” and “Gold Boy,” with plans to expand based on audience response.
Orange Middle East and Africa and risingSUD have partnered to support African startups’ expansion into Southern France via the Orange Digital Center network. The collaboration provides tailored support and resources to foster growth, connecting innovation ecosystems across continents and strengthening economic ties between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Maroc Telecom and Inwi have launched joint ventures Uni Fiber and Uni Tower to boost Morocco’s FTTH and 5G infrastructure. With significant investment and ambitious deployment targets, the ventures aim to expand high-speed internet access and telecom tower infrastructure, offering open access to operators and supporting national digital growth.
Turkcell and A10 Networks deepen their partnership by accelerating network virtualization and security integration in 2025. Turkcell enhances its CGNAT infrastructure with software-defined solutions, enabling scalable, efficient, and secure service delivery amid IPv4 shortages and growing subscriber needs. The collaboration supports 5G and IoT readiness while reducing operational costs.
Contact Financial Holding and noon Payments have partnered to enhance Egypt’s digital payments by integrating financing services and digital payment options within Contact’s AI-driven ContactNow app. The collaboration introduces BNPL services and expands payment flexibility for merchants and consumers, aiming to revolutionize financial accessibility across the market.
Intelsat and the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative are bringing satellite internet to ten community learning centres in South Sudan and Uganda, enabling access to digital education in underserved and conflict-affected areas. This collaboration supports WPDI’s mission to foster peace and community development by expanding educational resources and digital literacy.
Hibrid and Alibaba Cloud have formed a strategic alliance to enhance streaming technology and infrastructure in the Middle East and GCC. By combining Hibrid’s platform with Alibaba’s cloud capabilities, the partnership will optimize streaming performance, reduce latency, and support diverse industries with AI-powered digital solutions. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to innovation and regional digital transformation.