Morocco leads Africa as the most technologically advanced country, excelling in ICT and high-tech manufacturing. While pioneering in 3G and advancing in digital transformation, Morocco is preparing for 5G and ranked highly in global ICT indices. Challenges remain in financial digitization, with cash transactions still predominant.
Banglalink reports a 15.1% revenue growth in Q3 2023, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. The telecom company has strengthened its digital services with the success of its entertainment platform Toffee and super app MyBL, and expanded 4G connectivity across Bangladesh.
Batelco, Bahrain’s leading telecommunications company, has launched Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) to meet the increasing demand for IoT and digital products. This move from IPv4, which has a limited number of IP addresses, to IPv6 with its nearly limitless addresses, is set to improve internet efficiency, security, and network performance in Bahrain.
Alliance Networks is enhancing Gulf region connectivity by partnering with regional and global digital infrastructure and cable system providers. The initiative involves integrating terrestrial and submarine cable systems, expanding high-bandwidth network services across the GCC, and managing a 1,400km terrestrial fiber cable for broader connectivity.
Tunisie Telecom has partnered with Telepin to launch a converged charging system for its customers. This partnership aims to unify Tunisie Telecom’s charging services into Telepin’s platform, enhancing customer experience for its six million subscribers with secure and integrated top-up solutions.
Veon subsidiary Banglalink has agreed to sell around a third of its tower portfolio in Bangladesh to Summit Towers for $100 million. This strategic move, involving the transfer of over 2,000 towers, aligns with Veon’s shift towards a digital operator model and will help Banglalink focus on digital services expansion.
Google Cloud has launched a new cloud region in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to offer advanced cloud services to various sectors and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This strategic expansion is expected to add significant economic value and job creation by 2030. The initiative includes collaborations and a focus on aiding SMEs and startups, particularly through the upcoming Google for Startups Cloud Program.
Sharjah-based digital ecosystem re.life announces its expansion across the MENA region, with new offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. The company operates ‘re.life market’ for recyclable trading and ‘re.life collect’ for logistics services. This expansion follows significant growth in 2023, with a substantial increase in transactions and user engagement on both platforms.
Banglalink, Bangladesh’s third-largest mobile operator, is postponing its IPO launch due to current market conditions, including political uncertainties and underperformance of telecom stocks. The company, optimistic about a 2024 IPO, has also explored partnerships with digital banks and recently initiated a national roaming field trial with Teletalk. Challenges include non-implementation of SMP restrictions and unfeasible regulations for SIM-locked handsets.
Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator, in partnership with AT&T, has launched Pakistan’s first VoLTE roaming services in the US. This service ensures superior voice quality and faster call setup for Jazz customers traveling to the US, especially since AT&T has discontinued its 2G and 3G services.
