Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Maroc Telecom and Inwi have created joint ventures to accelerate Morocco’s FTTH and 5G expansion, investing $486 million initially. Uni Fiber targets millions of fiber connections, while Uni Tower aims to build thousands of telecom towers, fostering open infrastructure access and national digital growth.
Aria Ventures has launched a $1 million fund to support deep-tech startups by bridging research and market application. The venture studio plans to grow the fund to $4 million over four years while offering hands-on support and infrastructure. Their DeepTecher competition fosters innovation by mentoring and funding promising projects in AI, biotech, robotics, and related sectors.
Morni secured funding from STV’s $100M NICE fund to expand its automotive services ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The investment supports growth in auctions, insurance TPA, garages, and parts recycling, driving tech-enabled mobility transformation aligned with Vision 2030.
Netaj has launched Nawat, Iraq’s first venture capital studio, to accelerate 40 startups through mentorship, product development, and funding. The program’s hybrid investment model supports promising ventures with both in-kind resources and capital, aiming to strengthen Iraq’s startup ecosystem.
Talenteo, an Algerian HRTech startup, secured a six-figure investment from 216 Capital to expand into Tunisia and Francophone Africa. The AI-driven SaaS platform serves over 150 companies, helping SMEs digitize HR and payroll operations critical to Africa’s growing workforce.
Google’s 2024 Economic Impact Report estimates $8.3 billion in Saudi Arabia’s digital economy from its products and services. With broad adoption of AI tools like Gemini and strong developer growth, Google is fueling digital skills, job creation, and economic diversification aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Pakistan’s 2025-26 budget forecasts Rs22.6 billion from 4G/5G licenses and Rs1.1 trillion from PTA surplus, with increased mobile handset levy revenue. Regulatory authority revenues are budgeted lower amid recent downward revisions.
OpenAI is seeking a $40 billion funding round involving major global investors to accelerate AI development and infrastructure, reflecting growing interest from Middle Eastern and Indian tech giants in the company’s future.
Salus Cloud’s $3.7 million seed round strengthens its mission to close the secure CI/CD gap in Africa and MENA by delivering AI-enhanced, affordable DevOps solutions designed for emerging tech markets, enabling startups to focus on core business innovation.
The Syrian government is negotiating with leading Gulf telecom companies Zein, Etisalat, Saudi Telecom, and Ooredoo to execute a $300 million fibre optic expansion project. This initiative aims to modernize Syria’s digital infrastructure, boost internet connectivity, and stimulate economic development through enhanced telecommunications networks.