Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Starlink is close to a deal with Saudia Airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi across 140 aircraft, expanding its Gulf presence and competing with Neo Space Group, Viasat, and Inmarsat. The move follows talks with Emirates and Gulf Air, and a Qatar Airways rollout.
Pakistan has waived ROW charges for IT and fiber installations in Islamabad, aiming to cut costs for providers and speed up broadband rollout. Officials say the move supports affordable Internet expansion, though shutdowns and platform censorship continue to challenge digital access.
Nepal Telecom is close to awarding Huawei its billing system contract, despite prior warnings over monopoly risks, data security, and conflicts of interest. Critics say revised tender terms favor Huawei’s older hardware, potentially giving it near-total control of the operator’s core infrastructure.
ZTE and Zong 4G have launched Pakistan’s first high-power 8T8R UBR and DIA antenna solution, boosting capacity by up to 83% at peak hours, cutting RRU requirements by 67%, and preparing the network for 5G while enabling cost-efficient deployment in constrained environments.
e& UAE has launched a flexible, end-to-end managed monitoring-as-a-service platform, offering enterprises real-time infrastructure visibility to reduce risk, maintain continuity, and improve operational control. The modular service can be tailored to industry needs through strategic partnerships.
Fortinet has opened a new FortiCNAPP PoP in Singapore to deliver AI-driven, scalable cloud security for ASEAN and South Asia. The move supports data residency, compliance, and low-latency access, helping organizations protect cloud-native applications while enabling partners to provide localized security services.
stc group powered the Esports World Cup with 1,295 antennas, expanded 5G bandwidth to 285 MHz, and achieved record network speeds for over 3 million users. The infrastructure ensured flawless gaming, spectating, and media coverage, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s esports and digital leadership.
Robi has launched international roaming in 70 countries, purchasable in local currency, with nine flexible packages. Travellers can activate plans through mobile apps, avoiding foreign SIMs and currency. The move is expected to enhance convenience, improve service quality, and boost government revenue.
Zain Iraq’s Mohammed Samir says customer-centric innovation, digital inclusion, and infrastructure expansion are central to staying competitive and aligning with Iraq’s development goals, with the customer as the company’s guiding compass.
China launched its eighth batch of LEO satellites from Wenchang using a Long March-5B rocket, progressing its internet constellation project in the 588th Long March series mission.