Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Bahrain’s Transportation Minister met the UN Resident Coordinator to explore deeper cooperation, aligning national priorities with international initiatives and advancing cross-sector collaboration to support the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development across transportation and telecommunications.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has warned that sharing illegal, hateful, defamatory, or false content online is a punishable offence under PECA 2016. The regulator urged responsible social media use, highlighting the risks to individuals and institutions, and reaffirmed its commitment to awareness campaigns that promote ethical digital behaviour and a secure online ecosystem.
MCIT and MOPH hosted a healthcare-focused SMEs Go Digital workshop to promote digital transformation and AI adoption across Qatar’s health sector. The session showcased practical applications to improve patient experience and operational efficiency, supporting innovation-driven SME growth in line with the Digital Agenda 2030.
PTA has warned users against sharing illegal online content, including blasphemy, hate speech, fake news, and obscene material, stressing such acts are punishable under law. The Authority also launched a facility enabling overseas Pakistanis to retain their SIM cards while abroad, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.
PTCL has submitted the Telenor Pakistan–Ufone merger to the telecom regulator, triggering a formal review of competition, spectrum, and consumer impact. PTA’s assessment is expected within two months, followed by SECP and court approvals. The deal aims to strengthen PTCL’s mobile business and reshape Pakistan’s telecom landscape.
Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator has denied claims that a new cybercrime law is being enforced, stating that digital offences remain governed by the existing Criminal Law Act. POTRAZ warned against misinformation, urging verification through official channels as cyber laws globally raise concerns around free speech, privacy, and enforcement powers.
Bangladesh’s telecom regulator has given mobile operators one week to submit plans to cut data prices, warning of intervention if costs remain high. While operators cite inflation and FX pressures, the government has ordered relief for consumers as public frustration grows.
UAE parents are now legally responsible for supervising children’s online activity under the new Child Digital Safety Law. The law mandates monitoring, parental controls, and reporting harmful content, while forcing global platforms to comply with age checks, data protections, and advertising limits for minors.
Morocco has ordered major ISPs to block unlicensed betting platforms, enforcing DNS and IP restrictions after a court ruling backed by the state lottery operator. The move aims to protect players, curb illegal gambling, and keep betting revenue within the country, with daily fines for non-compliance.
Bahrain says it remains the only country with a Data Embassy law, enabling foreign data to be hosted locally under home-country jurisdiction. Finance Minister Sheikh Salman said this, alongside bankruptcy reform, education investment, and global fiber connectivity, is creating a fertile environment for AI-driven entrepreneurship and foreign capital.