Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan’s IT minister warned that the 5G rollout could be delayed amid high taxation, dollar-linked spectrum pricing, and ongoing legal disputes. Telecom firms are facing losses, limited spectrum, and slow infrastructure growth, putting the country’s 5G ambitions and connectivity goals at significant risk.
Dr. Khalid Al-Ghazzawi, CEO of Ebdaa Microfinance Company – Bahrain, has been appointed to the World Union of Arab Bankers’ Board of Directors for the sixth term (2023-2028). His role will focus on advancing financial inclusion, fostering regional collaboration, and supporting the development of the Arab banking sector.
Es’hailSat has signed a multi-year deal with Morocco’s SNRT to provide Direct-to-Home services, Digital Terrestrial Television transponder, and video contribution via its Es’hail-1 satellite. This partnership boosts SNRT’s signal coverage across the Middle East and North Africa, enhancing access to quality Moroccan content regionally.
Scale AI, backed by Amazon, is expanding into the Middle East with plans to open an office in Riyadh and establish a presence in the UAE. The company aims to capitalize on the Gulf’s growing AI adoption and strengthen regional ties, contributing to the region’s digital transformation.
Akurateco has partnered with DineroPay to advance mobile payments in Saudi Arabia, launching Apple Pay and Google Pay tailored to the local market. The collaboration focuses on secure, scalable solutions with network tokenization and full compliance with Saudi regulations, positioning both companies at the forefront of digital financial innovation in MENA.
Jordan’s government has approved an initiative to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets within a year. This framework will align with global standards, enhance the country’s competitiveness, and foster a digital economy. The Jordan Securities Commission will lead the development of the legal and technical infrastructure for virtual assets.
New office underscores long-term commitment to the region’s sovereign data and AI ambitions, deepening EDB’s collaboration with governments, enterprises, and…
Egypt has signed a new nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia involving the production of mobile nuclear reactors, major technology-transfer initiatives and joint work on advanced engineering, 3D manufacturing and energy-storage systems. The partnership also supports localisation of nuclear components for the Dabaa plant, which will supply 12% of Egypt’s electricity and significantly cut gas use and emissions once operational.
Sri Lanka is developing a hybrid cloud infrastructure combining local sovereign and global public cloud services to support its digital identity program and broader data governance. The National Data Exchange and digital credentialing systems complement this infrastructure as the country targets rapid digital economic growth driven by AI and cloud technologies.
Dialog Axiata’s $100 million investment strengthens Sri Lanka’s digital infrastructure, accelerating 5G adoption and reinforcing its role as a catalyst for national connectivity and growth.