Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Iraq is set to launch Vodafone Iraq, a new state-backed operator introducing 5G services under a 20-year brand license with Vodafone. The operator will rely on Iraqi graduates trained by Vodafone, cover major cities in its first phase, and hold exclusive 5G rights for three years to accelerate adoption.
Iraq’s youthful population and growing digital appetite make telecommunications central to its future. Zain Iraq, the country’s largest operator, is driving this transformation by investing in networks, local talent, innovation, and cultural trust — ensuring that connectivity becomes a bridge to opportunity, resilience, and progress.
Egypt’s Public Business Sector Ministry is exploring AI adoption through partnerships with Masar and GAIA. Talks centered on predictive maintenance, risk management, and operational efficiency solutions to advance digital transformation, improve subsidiary performance, and align with Egypt’s national digitalization strategy.
Fitch Solutions projects Egypt’s IT market will grow from $3.5B in 2025 to $9.2B by 2031, driven by mega smart city projects, cloud adoption, and $256M in public digital infrastructure investment. Software and IT services will lead growth as Egypt builds a digitally advanced, investment-ready economy.
Egypt’s Prime Minister reviewed national ICT and digital transformation strategies with key ministers, highlighting efforts to attract investment, build digital skills, and foster startup growth. The ICT sector now contributes 5.8% to GDP, with major initiatives like the Digital Egypt platform, AI projects, and a booming outsourcing industry.
Madari Space, an Abu Dhabi startup, will launch a proof-of-concept orbital data centre in 2026, partnering with MBRSC and the UN. The mission aims to demonstrate sustainable off-planet data storage to cut carbon emissions, support AI-era infrastructure, and prepare for the cislunar economy.
Standard Chartered Bangladesh and UNICEF have partnered to train 30,000 youth in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sales through the P2E platform. The two-year program will empower marginalized communities, especially women and people with disabilities, with employable skills and business opportunities to drive inclusive growth in Bangladesh.
Spotify has introduced direct messaging for users aged 16+, allowing in-app sharing of music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Available on both Free and Premium mobile versions, the feature creates a dedicated space for recommendations and conversations, making the platform more social and interactive.
Bundesliga has signed a three-year broadcast deal with Saudi-owned MBC Group, making it the official media partner across MENA. All games will stream on Shahid, with weekly matches airing on MBC Action and MBC1. The agreement also includes joint marketing to expand Bundesliga’s regional reach.
Algeria has launched its eTrade Readiness Assessment (eT Ready) with UNCTAD to accelerate MSME participation in digital trade. The roadmap addresses barriers in logistics and cross-border commerce, aligning with AfCFTA ambitions and Algeria’s diversification agenda. It will also feed into discussions at UNCTAD16 and the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers.