Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The RiseUP Summit, in partnership with Misr Italia, will showcase AI innovation and foster collaboration among industry leaders, startups, and tech investors. The event, highlighting AI’s impact across sectors like real estate, will feature keynotes, workshops, and product demos, with participation from global tech giants such as Google and Microsoft.
Foundation Ventures, a Cairo-based venture capital firm, has secured the first close of its $25 million fund, “FVFII.” The fund will support startups in Egypt and Africa, focusing on driving innovation, regional expansion, and global competitiveness. Investors include the Egyptian American Enterprise Fund and MSMEDA.
Vodacom’s shares rose 8.6% following a strong revenue report for the December quarter, with Egypt leading performance. Group revenue grew by 1.6%, while service revenue saw an 11.6% increase on a normalised basis. Despite currency challenges, the group remains optimistic about its growth, particularly in digital and financial services.
Meta AI is now fully available across key MENA markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Iraq. The AI assistant is integrated into Meta’s apps and offers features like text generation, image creation, and support for Arabic. The rollout includes educational initiatives and plans for advanced tools.
du has become the exclusive partner for the UAE landing point of the PEACE subsea cable project, connecting France to Singapore. The expanded cable system will enhance low-latency connectivity across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, driving digital transformation and AI growth in the UAE and beyond.
BTRC has renamed its Digital Security Cell to the Digital and Cyber Safety Directorate to better reflect its role in cybersecurity and digital safety. The Directorate will continue its content monitoring and removal efforts while expanding its scope and workforce to address the growing challenges of cyber-related crimes.
Batelco has partnered with Bahrain Bourse to provide B2B Cloud Solutions for enhanced connectivity and value-added services, particularly for the banking and finance sectors. The innovative SD-WAN service creates a private cloud for Bahrain Bourse members, offering secure, flexible, and efficient connectivity across various media.
Flowwow and Admitad have released a report on the MENA e-commerce and gifting markets, showing significant growth in 2024. The UAE and Saudi Arabia led the region in online orders, with a rise in average order values. The gifting market, especially flowers, saw remarkable growth, with Flowwow leading the surge.
Ooredoo Qatar has partnered with Ericsson to enhance its 5G network, deploying advanced RAN and microwave backhaul solutions. This collaboration will expand coverage, especially in remote areas, improve indoor and outdoor capacity, and enable enhanced 5G services, including the use of new spectrum and backhaul technologies.
PTCL has partnered with MTronic to deliver innovative IoT solutions for smart homes in Pakistan. The collaboration offers customers access to advanced, affordable home technologies, powered by PTCL’s fiber internet, with discounts up to 30%. This initiative aims to enhance lifestyles and promote digital transformation through seamless connectivity.