Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Basata has increased its stake in MadfoatCom to 25%, strengthening its role in advancing digital payments and financial inclusion in Jordan. The partnership, backed by Jordan Kuwait Bank and the Social Security Investment Fund, focuses on enhancing digital payment solutions, money transfers, and supporting SMEs through financial tools.
Orange Egypt and Huawei have partnered to launch SD-WAN services in Egypt, utilizing Huawei’s Cloud Stack (HCS) Platform. The collaboration enhances network management, security, and performance across dispersed offices. This initiative supports Egypt’s Vision 2030 digital transformation strategy, contributing to the growth of the country’s ICT sector.
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UAE account for more than half of the global Islamic fintech firms. The market, valued at $161 billion in 2023/24, is projected to grow to $306 billion by 2028. Saudi Arabia leads as the dominant hub, with challenges like capital access impacting growth.
Bridge Alliance is advancing its Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx) with 14 committed operators, simplifying API adoption for enterprises. The platform will be showcased at MWC Barcelona 2025, highlighting innovations like Number Verification and SIM Swap APIs. Bridge Alliance is strengthening its network through strategic partnerships with channel providers.
Telenity has upgraded its Digital Services Platform for Ooredoo Algeria, enhancing its capabilities to manage the entire digital services lifecycle. The new platform optimizes partner ecosystem orchestration, subscription lifecycle management, and digital content monetization, driving service agility, customer retention, and increased ARPU. Telenity supports Ooredoo’s digital transformation.
Amazon Kuiper has partnered with Kazakhstan’s Samruk-Kazyna to provide satellite internet services to remote regions of the country. This collaboration aims to improve broadband connectivity in underserved areas through satellite technology, enhancing access to the internet and supporting global efforts for digital inclusion.
Bahrain and Qatar have committed to strengthening cooperation in transport, logistics, and infrastructure development. Ministers Dr. Shaikh Abdulla and Shaikh Mohammed discussed collaboration in land, sea, and air transport, with a focus on enhancing economic integration within the GCC. Both countries emphasized the importance of sustainable development.
The African smartphone market grew by 9% in 2024, reaching 74.7 million units, driven by easing inflation. Transsion led with a 51% market share, while Samsung and Xiaomi followed. Despite challenges like high inflation and currency depreciation, Africa remains a promising growth market, with expectations of slower growth in 2025.
Telenor IoT has partnered with stc to provide IoT connectivity management services in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration will enable seamless connectivity for customers in the Kingdom, including manufacturers in the transportation sector. This partnership supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the growing demand for connected devices and services.
Gemini Code Assist for individuals has launched a public preview, offering free, AI-assisted coding help to developers. With up to 180,000 code completions monthly and AI-powered code reviews for GitHub repositories, it provides generous access, enhancing productivity and code quality for developers, students, and startups.