Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Omantel has launched a regional Managed Optical Fibre Network using Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 technology, offering up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength for hyperscalers and cloud providers. With end-to-end management, automated provisioning, and multi-country reach via Zain and ZOI, the network strengthens Oman’s role as a regional digital connectivity hub.
Sri Lanka’s SLT-MOBITEL has set a new national 5G speed record exceeding 10Gbps, expanding trials to 18 districts ahead of commercial deployment and strengthening the country’s digital transformation agenda.
Ooredoo Qatar has strengthened its IoT leadership with a unified ecosystem enabling secure, scalable and intelligent device connectivity. The enhanced platform supports real-time management and operational efficiency, empowering businesses to accelerate digital transformation across Qatar.
Iran’s mobile connectivity saw measurable improvement in October, rising three spots globally with faster download speeds. However, fixed broadband lags significantly behind global averages, highlighting the need for continued investment to support growing digital service demand.
Oman’s new MOFN service with Ciena boosts data speeds up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength, enhancing regional connectivity for AI and cloud infrastructure. The end-to-end managed service strengthens Oman’s status as a strategic digital hub linking Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe, while delivering secure, scalable bandwidth for hyperscalers and enterprise expansion.
Qatar Airways now has over half its wide-body fleet equipped with free gate-to-gate Starlink internet, enabling industry-leading high-speed connectivity across 200 daily flights as rollout accelerates ahead of schedule.
Oman’s TRA introduces a fast and efficient number portability system to boost competition, enhance customer experience, and align telecom services with global standards.
Morocco’s nationwide digital infrastructure push is accelerating, with 5G services now live in around 60 cities just one week after launch by Maroc Telecom, Orange Morocco, and Inwi. Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni confirmed that fiber optic connectivity is now mandatory in all new construction projects under a joint ministerial decree adopted in September.
The Taliban reports rising mobile internet usage and expanded coverage, but recent network shutdowns and high connectivity costs undermine progress as Afghanistan remains one of the least-developed telecom markets worldwide.
China Mobile has landed the SEA-H2X subsea cable in Hong Kong and activated key eastern segments of the 2Africa system, strengthening connectivity across Asia, Africa, and Europe. SEA-H2X adds more than 100Tbps of China Mobile bandwidth and reinforces Hong Kong’s digital hub role, while 2Africa’s activation supports Africa’s digital economy through high-capacity, low-latency infrastructure and deeper China–Africa technology cooperation.