Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan has established the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) under the Digital Nation Bill, appointing Dr. Sohail Munir as chairperson and Dr. Muhammad J. Sear as member. The authority will oversee the national digital master plan, data governance, and digital transformation projects to advance Pakistan’s digital economy.
AWS data centres in Bahrain and the UAE experienced connectivity disruptions after one UAE Availability Zone lost power due to objects striking the facility and causing a fire. Other zones remained operational, with traffic rerouted. AWS reported partial recovery but advised customers to use alternative regions amid ongoing regional tensions.
Indus Towers, backed by Bharti Airtel, is expanding into Africa with initial operations in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. The move leverages Airtel’s presence and aims to diversify revenues. Indus will face competition from established players like ATC, IHS Towers, and Helios in Africa’s growing telecom infrastructure market.
Oracle has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tamkeen to establish an Oracle Engineering Center in Bahrain, aimed at developing local IT talent through specialized training and certifications. This initiative supports Bahrain’s vision of becoming a tech innovation hub while addressing the regional demand for Oracle Cloud services.
The Cyber First Kuwait Conference, under the National Cyber Security Center’s patronage, explored strategies to secure Kuwait’s digital future. The event emphasized cross-sector collaboration, the National Cybersecurity Strategy, and significant cybersecurity investments, with projections estimating $2.405 million in revenue for 2024.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has announced the merger of Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN) and Gulf Bridge International (GBI) to create a carrier-neutral digital and AI infrastructure leader. This initiative aims to enhance Qatar’s connectivity, drive economic growth, and support the country’s Vision 2030 goals.
Huawei’s ‘Cloud TechWave Bangladesh 2025’ workshop enhanced local ICT skills in AI, big data, and cloud technologies with training led by Asia Pacific experts.
Nayatel is now a Microsoft AI Cloud Partner and CSP Reseller, expanding access to Microsoft’s cloud and AI services in Pakistan. The partnership supports local businesses with tailored AI integration and strengthens Nayatel’s cloud infrastructure capabilities.
Tamkeen has launched the Digital Enablement Program to accelerate SME digitisation and productivity. Through accredited or self-selected providers, enterprises can adopt digital tools that improve efficiency, competitiveness, and job creation—supporting Bahrain’s 2025 priorities of growth, sustainability, and citizen empowerment in the private sector.
VoPay has established its global headquarters in Qatar, positioning Doha as a hub for scaling cross-border digital financial infrastructure. The move supports Qatar National Vision 2030 and includes plans to hire over 400 professionals while expanding fintech capabilities across MENA, Africa, and Southeast Asia.