Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Bangladesh’s four licensed tower companies launched the Bangladesh TowerCo Association to drive policy reform and collaboration. Industry and regulators emphasized regulatory clarity, faster permitting, and infrastructure sharing as keys to unlocking 5G and digital growth.
Nepal now matches the digital connectivity level of 11 peer LLDCs, with 56% internet access and 94.5% mobile broadband penetration. While mobile data is affordable, fixed broadband remains costly. The country faces challenges in 5G rollout and data management, requiring government action to sustain progress.
Binance’s regional head Bader Al Kalooti discusses the company’s 20% MENA growth, regulatory licenses, halal crypto products, education initiatives, cybersecurity measures, and expanding institutional partnerships across the Gulf’s youthful, tech-savvy population.
W7Worldwide has expanded into Bahrain through a partnership with Riyara to provide integrated communications services, supporting Saudi-Bahraini economic ties and positioning Bahrain as a regional hub for communications growth.
Blacklane has launched premium chauffeur services in Manama, Bahrain, expanding its GCC footprint. Offering airport transfers, city rides, and cross-border trips to Saudi cities, the company plans EV integration to support Bahrain’s sustainable mobility goals.
Nokia will supply cutting-edge tech for the Medusa submarine cable, a €342 million project connecting Europe and North Africa with 480 Tbps capacity. The cable will improve regional connectivity and support advanced digital services like 5G and AI.
Ooredoo Kuwait and Ericsson are modernizing Ooredoo’s charging system with cloud-native infrastructure to enhance 5G monetization and service innovation, marking a key step in Kuwait’s telecom digital transformation.
MTN Group and Agility Arabia successfully transformed MTN’s procurement division using a Lean Agile Procurement framework. The initiative improved RFP cycle times by 55% and doubled the Agile Net Promoter Score, enhancing agility and operational effectiveness across 16 African markets.
UAE tech leaders rank cloud and generative AI as top priorities for the next three years, emphasizing the need for upskilling to address security, cloud management, and automation challenges. The global study highlights that balancing AI adoption with talent development is key to successful digital transformation.
Beyon posted a 9% revenue increase to BD242.8 million in H1 2025, driven by mobile, broadband, and digital services growth. Despite tax-related net profit decline, strong EBITDA and regional expansions, including Bahrain’s first digital eSIM launch, underpin confidence in its growth strategy.