Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Bangladesh is drafting a national AI policy to guide the use of artificial intelligence in government offices, aiming to strengthen digital governance and inter-agency integration. At the TechConnect Summit 2025, officials and industry leaders highlighted priorities in AI, cloud, 5G, and cybersecurity, reaffirming long-term collaboration between the ICT Division and Huawei.
Oman’s TRA clarified that all licensed telecom operators manage their social media accounts from within the country, despite the use of automated digital tools that may suggest external involvement. The Authority reaffirmed its regulations requiring local oversight and thanked the public for contributing to transparent and participatory regulatory discussions.
BTRC has cancelled 16 ISP licences for failing to renew after their validity expired. The decision, made following due legal procedure, declares any continued operations illegal and subject to penalties. Operators must return licence certificates and clear dues within 30 days. Officials say the move aims to enhance regulatory compliance and strengthen oversight of Bangladesh’s telecom sector.
Bahrain and the UK signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to deepen cooperation across rail, smart mobility, maritime, aviation and sustainable transport. During a meeting in London, both countries agreed to expand technical collaboration, launch capacity-building initiatives and improve public transport systems, reinforcing longstanding bilateral ties in infrastructure development.
Saudi Arabia’s Communications Ministry, together with GO Telecom, has launched the GO AI HUB platform—a unified national gateway for discovering, comparing and adopting AI solutions. The platform supports both government and private sectors, aligns with Vision 2030 goals and enhances the Kingdom’s position as a regional innovation and digital-economy leader.
Nepal is closer to a long-awaited 5G auction after the regulator sent the proposal to the ministry for approval. While Nepal Telecom and Ncell prepare their rollout strategies, uncertainties persist around investment, spectrum pricing and geopolitical speculation. Experts warn Nepal risks falling behind as AI adoption rises and future devices phase out 4G support.
Bahrain and Malta held discussions to strengthen cooperation in transportation, telecommunications and digital transformation. Ministers from both countries explored investment prospects, opportunities for knowledge exchange and pathways to deepen bilateral relations. The meeting underscored shared interest in advancing infrastructure, supporting economic development and pursuing joint initiatives that benefit both nations.
A BTRC inspection has exposed serious gaps in Bangladesh’s 4G network performance despite operators’ claims of 98–99 percent population coverage. Inspectors found no-coverage zones, weak signals, call drops, indoor connectivity issues, and faulty billing processes across multiple districts. The regulator has recommended adding more BTS sites, enforcing stricter rollout benchmarks, and improving monitoring and customer grievance mechanisms to restore service quality and reliability.
Oman is accelerating its digital transformation with major gains in e-government, investment facilitation and industrial growth. With over 395,000 commercial registrations, RO 30.2 billion in FDI and nearly 90% of licences automated, the country’s national strategies are building a more competitive, connected and investor-ready economy aligned with Vision 2040.
Sri Lanka’s TRC has confirmed steep telecom taxes: 20.3% on mobile data and 38.4% on voice calls. A Rs. 100 recharge gives users just Rs. 79.30 for data or Rs. 61.60 for calls. The TRC generated Rs. 45 billion last year and expects Rs. 50 billion next year, as telecom taxes continue to impact consumer spending power.