Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
e& UAE has upgraded its EMIX IP transit platform to 400G using Cisco ASR9000 routers to handle traffic growth exceeding 20% annually. The upgrade boosts capacity, lowers latency, and introduces AI-driven automation, improving performance and reliability for wholesale and operator customers across the MENA region.
The successful hollow-core fibre trial demonstrates how advanced fibre technologies can deliver significant latency improvements and higher performance for modern networks. By validating the technology in live field conditions, e& UAE and ZTT have taken an important step toward enabling faster, more efficient connectivity for data centres, cloud platforms, and emerging digital services across the UAE.
Edotco has deployed 400 shared backup power systems across Sri Lanka to support all mobile operators and improve network resilience during disasters. Following major outages caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the company plans to scale the initiative to 1,000 sites, strengthening national digital and emergency communications infrastructure.
Only 12% of Moroccans use mobile money, ranking the country among Africa’s lowest adopters, according to Afrobarometer. Regulatory hurdles, reliance on traditional banking, and digital divides have slowed uptake, with continued heavy cash usage highlighting challenges to financial inclusion.
Algeria has officially launched 5G services following regulatory approval and technical testing, enabling operators to begin nationwide rollout. The move supports the country’s digital economy strategy, with 5G expected to drive innovation, GDP growth, and advanced services across healthcare, industry, and education.
Algeria has launched construction of a landing station for the Medusa submarine cable in Skikda, strengthening Mediterranean digital connectivity. The 8,700-kilometer system will connect over ten countries, support 5G and cloud services, and enhance network resilience, with full operations expected by early 2027.
e& UAE has become the first operator in the region to commercially deploy four-carrier aggregation on a live 5.5G network, combining FDD and TDD spectrum. The rollout delivers multi-gigabit speeds, improved coverage, and higher capacity, supporting advanced consumer and enterprise use cases with wider expansion planned from 2026.
Oman’s telecommunications sector has launched the Nafadh initiative in North Al Batinah, extending the program beyond Muscat for the first time. The initiative supports telecom and IT freelancers through practical training, real-world projects, and entrepreneurship pathways, strengthening digital skills, employment opportunities, and participation in the national digital economy.
Ericsson and Zain Bahrain have expanded their partnership to deploy advanced 5G edge solutions using Ericsson’s Local Packet Gateway with Edge User Plane technology. The initiative enhances ultra-low latency connectivity, supports Industry 4.0 use cases, and strengthens Bahrain’s digital infrastructure to accelerate enterprise and industrial digital transformation.
Bangladesh’s mobile operators deployed portable towers, AI-based traffic management, and expanded capacity to maintain uninterrupted connectivity during Tarique Rahman’s reception. Preparations along key corridors helped manage heavy data and voice traffic, ensuring stable network performance despite large crowds.