Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The PTA has warned that mobile SIM cards must be registered in the name of the actual user, holding registered subscribers fully accountable for misuse. The move supports wider efforts to prevent illegal activities linked to improperly registered SIMs and reinforces mandatory compliance with telecom regulations.
Group-IB and VAS Integrated Solutions have signed an MoU to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities across Saudi Arabia through channel-led expansion, joint market development, and partner enablement. The partnership will deliver advanced cyber threat and fraud intelligence, support awareness and training initiatives, and enhance national cybersecurity resilience in line with the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals.
Bahrain chaired the 15th GCC Smart Card Steering Committee meeting in Riyadh, focusing on unified digital identity standards, smart card integration, and regional cooperation. The discussions reinforced GCC efforts to enhance digital services, harmonise technology frameworks, and build a more connected and sustainable digital future for citizens.
Jordan’s mobile subscriptions reached 8.48 million in Q3 2025, driven by rising data consumption and rapid growth in 5G adoption. While mobile and broadband usage continued to expand, fixed-line voice services declined, reflecting a broader shift toward digital-first connectivity and increasing pressure on operators to invest in network capacity.
India successfully launched its heaviest payload to date using the LVM3-M6 rocket, placing a 6,100kg US-built communications satellite into orbit. The mission strengthens India’s heavy-lift capabilities, supports future human spaceflight plans, and boosts its ambitions in the global commercial satellite launch market.
Fasset has partnered with ADI Foundation to deliver regulated onboarding and fiat connectivity for blockchain services built on ADI Chain, including future Dirham-backed stablecoin use cases. The collaboration supports institutional adoption of compliant digital asset infrastructure in line with the UAE’s evolving regulatory and digital finance framework.
e& UAE has upgraded its EMIX IP transit backbone to 400G with Cisco, boosting capacity, reducing latency, and improving network efficiency. The AI-driven, automated upgrade supports fast-growing data traffic, cloud interconnects, and emerging AI workloads, with plans to extend 400G capabilities across international EMIX locations.
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce market is expected to triple to $708.7 billion by 2033, driven by Vision 2030, 99% smartphone penetration, and mobile-first consumer behaviour. Growth in digital payments, Q-commerce, omnichannel retail, and AI personalisation is reshaping how Saudis shop, while logistics and fraud prevention remain key challenges.
e& UAE has become the first operator in the region to deploy 4-Carrier Aggregation on a live 5.5G network, combining FDD and TDD spectrum to deliver consistent multi-gigabit speeds. The milestone strengthens network capacity, improves real-world performance, and accelerates mass adoption of 5G-Advanced services across the UAE.
Ooredoo Qatar has launched a new eSIM solution for IoT devices, enabling enterprises to deploy, manage, and scale connected operations globally. Offering multi-network access, GSMA-compliant security, centralized management, and coverage across more than 600 networks, the solution supports secure, cost-efficient, and scalable IoT deployments across industries.