Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Indonesia has signed an MoU with Indosat, ITA, and Tsinghua University to establish an AI Application Cooperation Center, focusing on education, healthcare, and agriculture. Scheduled to launch early next year, the initiative supports Indonesia’s Golden 2045 vision, strengthens China–Indonesia AI ties, and advances inclusive digital transformation.
Zambia has taken bold steps toward digital transformation with two new bills on e-transactions and postal regulation, ICTAZ’s new 2025–2027 strategy, and a US$120 million World Bank grant. These moves aim to modernize regulations, strengthen ICT capacity, and drive infrastructure growth under Vision 2030.
Google is building four new subsea cable hubs in Africa to expand connectivity and support AI growth. Linked to the Equiano and Umoja cables, the hubs will be completed in three years, alongside investments in AI training, funding, and free AI Pro access for students across multiple African nations.
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has joined the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference 2025 as Strategic Partner. The event will focus on entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and AI-driven solutions, aligning with Qatar’s national strategies and reinforcing its role as a regional innovation hub.
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy showcased its Business in Dubai platform at Seoul’s Try Everything 2025, arranging 86 meetings and supporting seven Dubai startups. It also promoted Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai, where South Korean participation has more than doubled, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a global hub for startups and investors.
Es’hailSat has signed strategic partnerships with EgyptSat and Saudi NetLink to expand satellite services across MENA. The collaborations aim to enhance broadcasting, connectivity, and data solutions, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s digital agenda and Egypt’s service growth, while strengthening Es’hailSat’s role as a regional leader in satellite communications.
The TRC’s Q2 2025 report shows strong momentum in mobile and broadband usage. Mobile broadband grew 15.5% year-on-year, while fiber broadband reached 76% of subscriptions. SMS traffic surged 18.2%, and average monthly broadband usage hit 605 GB. Fixed voice services, however, continued their gradual decline.
Grameenphone has begun piloting Open RAN technology with Rakuten Symphony to test 4G and 5G NSA solutions ahead of a nationwide rollout in Bangladesh. Despite economic constraints, the Telenor-owned operator sees Open RAN as key to digital transformation, AI-driven growth, and enhancing its MyGP platform for millions of users.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 19, 2025 — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, today announced a…
ACF2025 builds on Afreximbank’s leadership in trade-related compliance and its investment in AI-powered platforms that streamline client onboarding, enable real-time…