Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Nigeria’s telecom regulator has opened a public consultation on direct-to-device satellite services, exploring spectrum models, coexistence with mobile networks, and public-interest safeguards. The move aligns with Airtel Africa’s planned rollout of Starlink’s Direct to Cell service, signalling Nigeria’s readiness to shape a regulatory framework for satellite-mobile convergence.
Morocco has renewed satellite communication licenses for nine operators, reinforcing its position as a leading African space and telecom market. The move supports VSAT, GMPCS, and 3RP services, strengthens national infrastructure, and aligns with Morocco’s growing satellite portfolio and Africa’s expanding space ecosystem.
Nigeria’s telecom regulator has appointed PwC to assess competition across the sector, examining market concentration, pricing, entry barriers, and consumer behaviour. The review aims to strengthen regulatory certainty, preserve fair competition, and guide proportionate interventions that sustain innovation, investment, and service quality amid shifting industry dynamics.
SIM card registration in Afghanistan has reached 90 percent coverage, improving security, reducing crime and harassment, and limiting misuse of mobile services. With accountability in place and infrastructure expanding, the policy strengthens social order, public trust, and responsible communication while supporting better monitoring and regulation of the telecom sector.
Granite has received an FRA fintech licence to launch Egypt’s first fully digital money market account. The mobile-first platform enables instant onboarding, daily returns, and full liquidity without lock-ins, targeting individuals and businesses managing idle cash. The move places Granite at the forefront of digital asset management in Egypt.
The PTA has launched a new facility allowing overseas Pakistanis to protect their SIM cards during long stays abroad. By coordinating with operators and meeting basic usage or payment requirements, subscribers can retain their numbers. The authority also warned against scams and urged responsible SIM ownership.
Nepal Telecom has warned VAS providers against sending offensive SMS that threaten social, religious, or political harmony. The operator said strict action will follow any violations and reaffirmed that it does not share subscriber data, responding to public concern over misuse of bulk messaging platforms.
Morocco has renewed satellite communication licenses for nine operators, covering VSAT, GMPCS, and frequency-sharing services. Backed by ANRT, the move reinforces satellite connectivity as core infrastructure and positions Morocco among Africa’s leading space actors, supporting communications, environmental monitoring, security, and rural connectivity across the country.
Pakistan’s telecom regulator has warned multiple broadband providers, including PTCL and Net Cloud Telecom, after a Q4 2025 survey revealed widespread issues with latency, jitter, and network reliability. While minimum speeds are met, weak routing, core failures, and peak-hour congestion continue to disrupt video calls, gaming, and international access.
Lebanon’s Cabinet is reviewing a plan to relaunch international tenders for managing its two public mobile networks, shifting toward a hybrid model that blends state ownership with private operation. The move aims to improve performance, restore competitiveness, and attract investment while avoiding full privatisation of national telecom assets.