Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Touch partners with Zain Omantel International to offer preferential roaming rates for Gulf subscribers, supporting Lebanon’s telecom sector revival. The deal expands coverage and improves roaming services, making Lebanon more accessible for regional travelers from multiple Middle Eastern nations.
Egypt introduces tax-free startup zones offering customs and tax exemptions, simplified registration, and support services to retain tech talent amid currency shortages. Inspired by Gulf models, the initiative targets AI, fintech, and software sectors, aiming to boost investment and growth while addressing challenges like funding and regulatory hurdles.
Egypt and Algeria held talks to enhance cooperation in renewable energy and electricity grid modernization. Discussions covered high-voltage transmission, distribution networks, and transformer stations, with a focus on clean energy manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions. Algeria aims to collaborate with Egyptian firms to support its energy transition and decarbonization efforts.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) mandates telecom operators to notify consumers of major network outages, detailing causes, affected areas, and restoration times. Operators must report outages via a public portal and provide compensation for disruptions over 24 hours, promoting transparency and accountability to protect critical telecom infrastructure.
e& celebrated the latest cohort of its AI Graduate Programme, which has trained 284 Emirati graduates since 2021. The programme emphasizes gender diversity and combines advanced AI training with leadership development, preparing Emirati talent to lead the UAE’s innovation-driven digital economy.
Rakuten Symphony and Zain Kuwait have partnered to pilot Kuwait’s first cloud-native Open RAN deployment, utilizing advanced virtualized software to deliver 5G Standalone sites. This project marks a significant step toward network agility and scalability, supporting a wider Open RAN rollout across the Zain Group’s Middle East and North Africa operations.
Yango Play has partnered with du to offer an exclusive entertainment package on select UAE Home Plans, featuring premium Arabic series, movies, music, and interactive games. Du subscribers receive a complimentary 12-month subscription, enhancing access to diverse, culturally relevant content through a single all-in-one super-app.
Turkcell’s subsidiary TDC secured EUR100 million in interest-free murabaha financing from Emirates NBD to fund data center expansion and digital infrastructure projects. The agreement supports Turkcell’s growth strategy focused on eco-friendly, high-capacity data centers catering to cloud, AI, and big data demands in the MENAT region.
Veon and Engro have secured all regulatory approvals to combine their telecom infrastructure assets in Pakistan. Engro will acquire Deodar from Veon’s Jazz, enabling Jazz to operate as an asset-light company while maintaining service leases, supporting Pakistan’s digital transformation and infrastructure growth.
Benefit highlighted Bahrain’s financial sector as a key driver of Economic Vision 2030 at the Kuwait Public Relations Conference. Emphasizing digital transformation and fintech innovation, Benefit showcased its role in financial inclusion and attracting foreign investment, aligning with national strategies and advancing sustainable economic growth.