Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Vodafone Egypt and Talabat Egypt have partnered to include Talabat Pro in Vodafone RED plans, combining telecom services with food delivery and digital commerce benefits as both companies expand into lifestyle-focused offerings amid growing demand for integrated mobile and app-based services in Egypt’s digital economy.
African startups like Soil Regen Guy, Afrisoul, LiquidGold, Arumloo, and FOST are pioneering affordable, scalable water-saving technologies to tackle the continent’s water scarcity crisis. Their solutions target smallholder farmers, schools, communities, and large farms, combining innovation with local relevance to conserve water, boost agricultural productivity, and improve sanitation.
AFR-IX Telecom has secured USTDA funding to study extending the Medusa subsea cable to West Africa. The project aims to enhance Africa’s digital connectivity, enabling secure bandwidth for AI, 6G, and quantum technologies, while strengthening US-African cooperation against untrusted infrastructure providers.
e& UAE has deployed Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) to enhance its optical network with ultra-high-speed 400G connectivity, supporting 10Gb home services and AI data center hubs. This deployment doubles its data transmission capacity to 1.6 Tb/s per wavelength, reinforcing the company’s digital transformation and AI readiness.
Sigma Capital has launched a $100 million fund to invest in web3 sectors, focusing on decentralized finance, blockchain infrastructure, tokenization, gaming, and the metaverse. The firm aims to invest in 100 early-stage startups and 25 liquid tokens over three years, optimizing portfolio performance and supporting emerging web3 innovations.
Al Baraka Islamic Bank has successfully implemented SafeNet, an AI-driven fraud prevention solution, in collaboration with Global Payment Services (GPS). The solution enhances the security of digital payment channels, ensuring real-time transaction analysis and compliance with Central Bank of Bahrain regulations, while boosting customer trust in the bank’s services.
Dubai has appointed Turner & Townsend to manage a major hyperscale data centre for du, targeting LEED Gold sustainability. In Oman, Ooredoo has launched a combined data centre and submarine cable landing station in Salalah, set to become a key hub for global connectivity and cloud expansion.
Both initiatives highlight the growing role of telecom operators in driving environmental sustainability and promoting circular economy practices.
Dr. Shaikh Abdulla Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, spoke at the Bab Al Bahrain Forum 2025, highlighting the country’s role in innovation, human capital, and sustainable economic growth. The forum brought together key international figures to discuss global and regional economic challenges.
AVEVA will host AVEVA Day Egypt on 1 October 2025, showcasing how AI, digital twins, and smart industrial platforms are transforming Egypt’s energy, mining, and manufacturing sectors. The event supports Vision 2030, with AVEVA highlighting innovations that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and digital sovereignty.