Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
bKash and Huawei received the GSMA GLOMO “Best FinTech Innovation” award at MWC Barcelona 2025 for their ‘Pay Later’ service. This solution provides microloans to Bangladesh’s unbanked, supporting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and reducing poverty. The partnership leverages Huawei’s mobile money platform to expand digital financial services in Bangladesh.
Egypt has been awarded the title of the fastest fixed internet in Africa for 2024 by Ookla at MWC 2025. The country’s investments in digital infrastructure have significantly improved internet speeds, with a major project underway to replace copper cables with fiber optics, extending high-speed access to rural areas.
Jazz has topped Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience Report in Pakistan, leading in 4G availability, coverage, live video experience, and upload speed. The telecom giant also leads the market in revenue share and subscriber base, further strengthening its position with the recent shutdown of its 3G network as part of its “4G for All” strategy.
Du has climbed to the 20th position in the latest Global Telco 150 ranking, increasing its brand value to $3 billion. The achievement is attributed to its strong customer service, excellent coverage, and commitment to digital transformation, supported by strategic growth initiatives and a stellar Brand Strength Index of 83.2.
Algerian start-up Nrecycli won the “Youth Social Entrepreneurs Award” in Doha, Qatar, for its innovative plastic waste management project. Since 2019, Nrecycli has been collecting recycled plastic in Algiers and Blida, collaborating with local stakeholders to promote sustainability and enhance recycling rates in Algeria.
Orange Jordan has been awarded the “Fastest Fixed Internet – Fiber Network” certificate for 2024, marking its third consecutive year of recognition. The award highlights the company’s superior network performance, driven by significant investments in fiber optic infrastructure and innovative technologies, reinforcing its leadership in Jordan’s digital transformation.
UN Envoy Amandeep Singh Gill commended Egypt’s digital transformation efforts, highlighting its robust infrastructure and the increasing focus on digitization across the Arab world. Gill emphasized the need for global cooperation in digital advancements, especially to foster youth employment. He also discussed regional collaboration on AI governance and digital trade expansion.
Vodafone Oman’s 777 live number auction raised over OMR 580,000 for charity, with the sale of the first-ever single-digit number fetching a record OMR 429,500. The auction reinforced Vodafone’s commitment to innovation, community support, and exclusive customer experiences while shaping Oman’s digital future.
Ooredoo Kuwait won two major awards at the 2025 Asian Telecom Awards: “Best Telecom Company of the Year” and “Best Human Resources Initiative.” The company was recognized for its digital innovations, talent development programs, and commitment to fostering a work environment that empowers employees and contributes to Kuwait’s technological future.
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) announced the winners of the 2025 Digital Prosperity Awards, recognizing exceptional initiatives in digital transformation. The awards celebrated achievements in innovation, digital advancement, and societal empowerment across multiple countries. Two flagship awards were presented to NeuroTech from Jordan and SPARK from The Netherlands.