Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Sri Lanka has launched Starlink satellite internet, providing nationwide coverage and monthly plans for homes and businesses. This expansion follows regulatory changes and positions Sri Lanka to improve connectivity, especially in remote regions, as part of bridging the digital divide.
TurkNet and SOCAR Fiber have partnered to integrate fibre networks along the TANAP pipeline, enhancing Turkey’s internet backbone and cross-border connectivity. This collaboration expands TurkNet’s reach across 25+ cities and provides terrestrial alternatives to subsea routes, supporting FTTH growth and lower latency for data centres.
Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund has approved Rs7.49 billion to expand 4G broadband and fiber optic infrastructure in remote districts, connecting millions of residents and supporting digital inclusion. The initiative promotes access to digital services, enabling participation in freelancing and startups, and contributes to IT sector growth.
Turkcell, Beko, and Ericsson completed the EU-backed VERGE project, enabling remote real-time industrial design between Istanbul and Eskişehir using 5G and XR technologies. This innovation enhances Türkiye’s digital production ecosystem by leveraging 5G’s low latency, network slicing, and AI-driven management to boost efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Telecom Egypt and SubCom have completed two strategic landings of the SEA-ME-WE-6 subsea cable on Egypt’s Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, linked by resilient terrestrial routes. This cable, spanning over 21,700 km and designed for 126 Tbps capacity, will connect Southeast Asia to Europe with multiple landing points and is set to be ready in early 2026.
Qatar’s Ooredoo and the UAE’s du have launched sovereign AI cloud services hosted locally to provide secure, low-latency access to advanced AI computing power. Ooredoo’s platform, powered by Nvidia Hopper GPUs, and du’s “National Hypercloud,” built on Oracle Alloy infrastructure, aim to accelerate AI adoption in sectors like finance, healthcare, and smart cities. These sovereign clouds enable compliance with national data policies while fostering innovation among governments, startups, and enterprises.
Zain KSA and Huawei launched the Riyadh Antenna Platform, featuring a compact cylindrical design that reduces wind load and integrates multiple antenna arrays for improved coverage. Backed by recent spectrum acquisition, the platform enhances network efficiency and supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital transformation goals.
Oman and Belarus signed three MoUs to advance cooperation in automotive manufacturing and smart technologies. Agreements between Karwa Motors, Amkodor, and MAZ focus on vehicle production and technology transfer, while ONEIC and Delivery Software will collaborate on ICT, AI, and fintech solutions to drive digital transformation in Oman and the region.
Starlink has officially launched its high-speed satellite internet service in Sri Lanka following regulatory approval. The service offers faster connectivity and broader coverage, including remote areas, marking Sri Lanka as the third South Asian country with Starlink access. The launch is part of Starlink’s global expansion, providing reliable internet through its extensive satellite constellation.
ICP Hub Egypt has launched a groundbreaking initiative allowing Egyptian developers to build decentralized applications on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) while paying fees in local currency. Supported by Mercatura Forum, the hub invites developers to join the World Computer Hacker League 2025—a global hackathon offering $300,000+ in prizes. ICP uniquely enables AI on-chain, sovereign internet infrastructure, and enhanced privacy, positioning Egypt at the forefront of Web3 innovation.