Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Intella, a Saudi-based AI startup specialising in Arabic dialect speech-to-text, raised $12.5M in Series A funding led by Prosus. With 95.73% transcription accuracy, it outperforms global tech giants. The capital will drive R&D, expand Ziila and IntellaCX, and support growth in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
EGYPTAIR has partnered with Huawei to modernise corporate travel and embed AI-driven ICT solutions across its operations. The agreement designates EGYPTAIR as Huawei’s preferred airline while introducing Smartcom-powered infrastructure upgrades, streamlined services, and enhanced in-flight experiences, positioning Egypt as a regional hub for business and digital aviation.
Telecom Egypt has approved Helios Investments’ binding offer to acquire a 75–80% stake in its new RDH subsidiary, valuing the assets at up to $260 million. The venture will develop Egypt’s data centres, with completion pending restructuring and regulatory approvals.
Al Salam Bank has signed a strategic deal with Denodo and NAIB IT to strengthen its data and AI infrastructure in line with Bahrain’s Vision 2030. The Denodo Platform will unify enterprise data, enabling real-time insights, AI-powered analytics, and scalable cloud-native operations to enhance agility, compliance, and customer experience.
Northstar Telecom has partnered with Kingston 10 in Bahrain to deliver high-speed Wi-Fi powered by IO by HFCL. The Caribbean restaurant and lounge now offers seamless, secure connectivity across its venue, enabling guests to share their experiences online while strengthening hospitality innovation in Bahrain.
Kerala has become India’s first state to achieve total digital literacy, training over 20 lakh residents under its Digi Kerala initiative. Meanwhile, Bangladesh continues to face digital divides, policy shortcomings, and weak adult education programmes. Experts call for a coordinated literacy drive integrating digital skills to close the gap.
Ooredoo is investing over $1bn in AI-ready data centres, subsea cables, fintech platforms, and 5G networks to power Africa’s gaming and igaming future. Its spin-off Syntys, subsea projects, and Walletii digital wallet expansion aim to deliver low-latency gaming, seamless payments, and cross-border digital connectivity across Africa.
Pakistan’s Spectrum Advisory Committee met under Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to chart a roadmap for spectrum allocation. Officials, GSMA, and mobile operators emphasized spectrum’s role in boosting telecom growth, exports, and jobs. The government pledged timely reforms and inclusive policies to deliver affordable, high-quality connectivity nationwide.
Safaricom has launched its inaugural Gaming Conference in Nairobi, themed Level Up Africa, exploring the future of gaming across eSports, development, policy, and investment. The event celebrated gaming culture while spotlighting challenges around policy and talent retention, reinforcing Safaricom’s role as a driving force in Africa’s gaming ecosystem.
Nepal has blocked 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, after they failed to register under new government rules. Critics warn the law curbs free expression, while operators and small businesses fear massive disruption, as social media makes up 80% of Nepal’s internet traffic.