Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Aria Ventures has launched a $1 million fund to support deep-tech startups by bridging research and market application. The venture studio plans to grow the fund to $4 million over four years while offering hands-on support and infrastructure. Their DeepTecher competition fosters innovation by mentoring and funding promising projects in AI, biotech, robotics, and related sectors.
Standard Chartered Egypt is expanding its role amid robust banking sector growth by focusing on women-led tech startups, financial inclusion, and corporate sector support. Its Futuremakers accelerator addresses funding and mentorship gaps, aiming to empower women entrepreneurs and create jobs, while leveraging a global network to boost trade and investment. Recent macroeconomic improvements underpin a positive outlook for the bank’s continued growth in Egypt.
Egypt renews its partnership with Arish University and ITIDA to enhance ICT skills for 7,200 youth in North Sinai over three years. The program emphasizes freelancing, entrepreneurship, internships, and sustainable local training to boost employment opportunities without relocation.
Morocco Telecom Group has raised over €272 million through its first private bond issuance, attracting strong investor interest and signaling financial strength. The funds will support network upgrades, digital initiatives, and expansion across Africa, boosting the company’s capacity for growth and innovation in a competitive telecom market.
Zain Omantel International (ZOI) secured four key global awards in 2025 for excellence in subsea and terrestrial connectivity, including honors for innovation, subsea cable leadership, and regional network operation. These accolades underscore ZOI’s vital role in connecting the Middle East to global digital markets, accelerating socio-economic growth and regional digital transformation.
ThousandEyes reported fluctuating global network outages from December 2024 to June 2025, with major disruptions from transit providers like Cogent and Lumen affecting multiple regions. ISP and cloud outages varied weekly, while collaboration apps saw minimal issues. These highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring reliable internet connectivity worldwide.
TF1+ is set to launch in 22 French-speaking African countries with an ad-supported and micro-payment model, positioning itself against Canal+ and expanding TF1’s advertising reach, including via Netflix in France.
Rack Centre and TelCables Nigeria collaborate to enhance West Africa’s cloud and network infrastructure by integrating major subsea cables, offering scalable cloud services, and enabling direct low-latency routes to Latin America, Europe, and the USA.
STC Bahrain and Huawei partner to develop 5G-Advanced and AI-powered digital services, enhancing network performance and industry solutions to drive Bahrain’s digital transformation and regional leadership.
Kacific, PTCL, and Telco Integrators partner to expand satellite broadband in Pakistan, leveraging combined infrastructure and expertise to bridge the digital divide in remote areas and empower communities.