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’s Universal Service Fund has approved Rs7.49 billion in projects to expand fiber broadband and 4G mobile coverage, targeting nearly 960,000 people in underserved areas. The initiatives include large-scale fiber deployments in Sanghar and Jhang districts and 4G rollouts in multiple districts, supporting digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Nepal delisted from Ookla’s mobile broadband speed index due to inconsistent speed data but remains in the fixed broadband list with improving fiber speeds.
South Korea launched the ‘We Mobile App’ in Nepal to support foreign employment with digital tools for skills, finance, and wellbeing. The initiative promotes transparency and safe labor management with Nepali government cooperation.
Standard Chartered Egypt focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs through tailored accelerator programs and mentorship while driving broader economic growth via strategic sector support and leveraging its global network for investment and trade.
STC Bahrain and Huawei partner to develop AI-powered 5G-Advanced digital services, focusing on enterprise private networks, AI-driven efficiency, and ecosystem growth to advance Bahrain’s leadership in digital transformation.
Rakuten Symphony and Tejas Networks partner to create integrated Open RAN solutions, targeting India and international markets. The collaboration merges Rakuten’s cloud-native software with Tejas’s radio tech to meet evolving telecom demands and expand 4G/5G deployments.
IHS South Africa and Project Isizwe have launched free public Wi-Fi in KwaMashu to reduce the digital divide, support education, and foster job creation. Complementary digital skills training aims to empower local youth as technology ambassadors.
Airtel Uganda has expanded 4G services to Kassanda District, improving network reliability and speed. The operator’s community engagement includes digital literacy efforts like data management education, supporting nationwide digital inclusion and economic participation.
Nokia, e& UAE, and MediaTek demonstrated the Middle East’s first six-component carrier aggregation on 5G Standalone networks, achieving 5.8 Gbps speeds across multiple mid-band spectrum bands. This breakthrough advances 5G performance in the UAE, enabling ultra-fast connectivity and supporting the region’s digital transformation.
Saudi Arabia’s government ICT contracts grew 18.75% to SR38 billion in 2024, driven by health, military, and infrastructure sectors. Investments focus on AI, cloud, and emerging tech, supporting Vision 2030. The Kingdom leads globally in digital government rankings and ICT spending share.