Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan is preparing for a major digital transformation driven by 5G readiness, AI-enabled cloud services, expanded fibre networks, and CPEC-backed connectivity. New submarine cables, blockchain verification, cybersecurity upgrades, and digital corridors position the country for Smart Cities and advanced digital services.
Ncell CEO Michael Foley has urged Nepal to focus on improving 4G quality before rolling out 5G. Despite high 4G device penetration, users face issues with speed, coverage, and latency. Foley said operators struggle under heavy fees and declining revenues, making 5G investment challenging without policy reform.
Makhazen was recognized at the 2025 Kuwait Hackathon for its continued efforts to develop local cybersecurity talent through its long-term partnership with CODED Academy. The company has supported the training of more than 6,900 students since 2022 and renewed its sponsorship for a second consecutive year. The 2025 program delivered workshops to over 620 participants and hosted more than 220 competitors, reinforcing cybersecurity as a national priority and key pillar of Kuwait’s digital transformation.
Huawei and MTN Nigeria have completed the first commercial deployment of Huawei’s RuralCow mobile base station, designed for rapid rollout in rural regions. The solution drastically reduces power use, installation complexity, and deployment costs while extending coverage to remote communities. It shortens rural network ROI to around three years.
Vodafone Qatar has launched a unified biometric eKYC platform powered by Innovatrics to enable fully remote onboarding for SIMs, eSIMs, wallets, and service changes. The system improves security with liveness detection, reduces reliance on physical stores, and reflects a broader global shift toward biometric-based digital identity and SIM registration.
Morocco’s first AGORATECH Forum brought together government authorities, regulators, and private sector leaders to position cybersecurity as a national strategic priority. Organized by APEBI, the event focused on national cyber resilience, cloud and infrastructure sovereignty, AI, 5G, and the global promotion of Moroccan cyber expertise. The forum established a new public–private dialogue platform aimed at strengthening Morocco’s digital security and international competitiveness.
Entreprenelle and ITIDA have launched the second mini edition of “SHE CAN – Tech & AI” in Cairo, attracting over 1,000 attendees and 45 speakers. The event focused on empowering women through technology, artificial intelligence, career development, and digital entrepreneurship. Backed by major partners including KFH-Egypt and Capgemini Egypt, the initiative highlights the rapid growth of Egypt’s tech workforce and the expanding role of women in the sector, with national employment expected to reach 500,000 by 2026.
IBM and stc Group have deepened their partnership to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s readiness for the post-quantum cybersecurity era. By adopting IBM’s quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions, stc is reinforcing its encryption, data protection, and cryptographic systems against future quantum-based threats. The collaboration has produced a new quantum-safe security framework aligned with NIST standards to proactively detect vulnerabilities. This initiative enhances national cybersecurity resilience, supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, and positions stc as a regional leader in future-ready, secure telecommunications infrastructure.
stc Bahrain has partnered with Bahrain Development Bank to deliver advanced AWS cloud management and cybersecurity services aimed at strengthening the bank’s digital infrastructure. The collaboration will enhance operational efficiency, cyber resilience, and service performance across BDB’s banking environment. The initiative supports secure cloud adoption, SME empowerment, and Bahrain’s broader financial sector digital transformation and economic growth goals.
Algeria has officially launched 5G services and initiated a six-year national rollout plan starting with eight pilot provinces. Licenses were awarded to Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo at a combined cost of nearly $492 million. The new network is expected to support AI, IoT, cloud services, and smart infrastructure across key sectors such as healthcare, industry, and education. However, high infrastructure costs and the affordability of 5G devices remain major challenges that could affect the speed and inclusivity of nationwide adoption, particularly in rural regions.