Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Visa, in partnership with Bahrain Islamic Bank, launches the second She’s Next program in Bahrain to empower women entrepreneurs with grants and resources, aiming to enhance their business growth and digital presence.
Oman’s Environment Authority launches the Naqi app to provide real-time air quality updates via mobile and web platforms. Featuring an interactive map and colour-coded alerts, the app supports environmental awareness and public health in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Egypt’s Minister of Investment met with Samsung Egypt’s CEO to discuss expanding Samsung’s operations, including a mobile phone manufacturing facility in Beni Suef. The partnership aims to make Egypt a regional hub for electronics production and export, with plans to increase exports by 50%, contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Orange Egypt won the Excellence Award for “Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative” at the 2024 Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit. The award recognizes the company’s dedication to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, alongside its innovative sustainability efforts in energy conservation, recycling, and promoting renewable energy.
Zain Bahrain has partnered with AlSalam Gas Electronics to offer exclusive benefits to AlSalam’s customers, including free rental on selected fiber plans and valuable vouchers. This collaboration, marked by a signing ceremony at Zain Bahrain Tower, aims to enhance customer satisfaction and service innovation.
Bangladesh’s mobile phone market shipped 4 million units in 1Q24, with a 1.7% YoY growth. Smartphones saw an 11.6% increase, rebounding from a decline due to heavy taxation. Feature phones declined by 5.4%. Key segments showed mixed trends, while 5G growth remains slow. Offline channels dominate, but online sales are rising.
Telecom Egypt and SubCom have completed two strategic landings of the SEA-ME-WE-6 subsea cable on Egypt’s Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, linked by resilient terrestrial routes. This cable, spanning over 21,700 km and designed for 126 Tbps capacity, will connect Southeast Asia to Europe with multiple landing points and is set to be ready in early 2026.
Maroc Telecom and Inwi propose creating FiberCo and TowerCo to share fibre and tower infrastructure, accelerating Morocco’s 5G and FTTH rollout. ANRT is consulting on market impact and access terms, with the $457 million project marking a major push in Morocco’s digital landscape.
Etihad Salam Telecom’s MoU with Syria marks a key step toward strengthening Syria’s digital infrastructure and advancing bilateral tech collaboration within the region.
PTCL Group CEO Hatem Bamatraf announced a two-year integration plan following the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan at GITEX. The merger aims to enhance connectivity and digital innovation in Pakistan, with immediate network quality improvements expected post-regulatory approvals, fostering socio-economic development and technological advancement.