Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
e& Enterprise and Cloudera have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate digital transformation in the Middle East. By combining AI, data management, and industry expertise, the partnership aims to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and create scalable solutions for sectors such as telecom, healthcare, finance, and government.
The collaboration aims to advance technological infrastructure and fuel digital transformation initiatives in Sharjah.
The Arab region’s internet usage has reached 348 million, with social media engagement at 228 million users, highlighting rapid digital transformation. The digital divide with the European Union is narrowing, and a young, tech-savvy population is driving the region’s growth in digital platforms and technological innovations.
MTN has officially exited Afghanistan, transferring its stake to M1 Group, which will now operate the company under the brand name ATOMA. The handover ceremony marked the completion of MTN’s strategic shift to focus on African markets, with ATOMA pledging to improve network services and user experience in Afghanistan.
Tech Mahindra has established a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia to oversee its Bahrain and Egypt operations. The move complements Pininfarina’s acquisition of Signature S.r.l. and comes amid strong Q1 results with a 34% profit rise, $809 million in deal wins, and steady workforce growth.
Bahrain has launched an online platform for small vessel registration and licensing, reducing processing times by up to 50%. The platform offers services like registration, renewals, and ownership transfers, and is integrated with the Coastguard. It aligns with Bahrain’s digital transformation goals under the Economic Vision 2030.
Pakistan’s telecom sector has witnessed substantial increases in data usage, broadband subscriptions, and network infrastructure, indicating a vibrant and expanding digital ecosystem. However, challenges remain as revenues have declined, reflecting a complex market dynamic in a rapidly evolving industry.
Telecom companies are expanding into fintech, offering digital wallets, cross-border payments, and financial services. By leveraging customer data and payment infrastructures, they are enhancing financial inclusion and creating seamless, secure financial experiences. This collaboration between telecom and fintech sectors is transforming the digital economy and offering new growth opportunities.
Saudi Arabia’s CST has issued guidelines for organizations to adopt the (.sa) national domain, offering technical instructions for websites, email, and other services. The move aims to boost digital identity, strengthen service reliability, and encourage reliance on national digital resources as part of the Kingdom’s transformation strategy.
Ericsson’s ‘Imagine Live’ in Oman brought together telecom partners to explore 5G, AI-native networks, and programmable infrastructure, advancing Oman Vision 2040. The event fostered collaboration on digital transformation, network modernization, and ecosystem development to drive innovation and economic diversification in the Sultanate.