Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Zain Kuwait and Rakuten Symphony have signed an MoU to pilot Kuwait’s first cloud-native Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN), deploying 5G Standalone sites with Rakuten’s virtualized Open RAN software. The initiative aims to boost network agility, efficiency, and scalability, marking a key step in Zain’s regional digital innovation.
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) represented Saudi Arabia at the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR24) in Kampala, Uganda. The event fostered discussions among global ICT regulators and stakeholders, with Saudi Arabia showcasing its leadership in digital regulations. The symposium facilitated knowledge exchange and collaboration among over 70 nations.
Naver is working on a project to construct a digital twin platform for major cities in Saudi Arabia, aiming to improve urban planning and disaster management.
Key components include an integrated information system, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and public-private partnerships.
Egypt’s FRA licenses 16 FinTech companies and enforces cybersecurity across 110 compliant institutions, promoting digital transformation in the non-banking sector. Recent regulations define infrastructure, digital identity, electronic contracting, and outsourcing requirements to ensure secure, stable financial markets amid rapid technology adoption.
Kuwaiti women lead 41% of startups, driving innovation across sectors like fintech and e-commerce. Backed by Vision 2035 and support platforms, female founders are reshaping the economy and culture despite funding and regulatory challenges.
Rowad Capital Commercial (RCC) will acquire a 60% stake in Uganda Telecommunications Corporation (UTel) as part of a plan to manage and commercialize Uganda’s ICT National Backbone Infrastructure. The partnership involves an initial investment of US$25 million, with plans to invest an additional US$200 million over three years.
ATME, a regulated digital assets exchange, launched at FinTech Forward 2024 in Bahrain. Licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, ATME aims to democratize access to illiquid assets via tokenization, boosting investment potential and supporting Bahrain’s economic diversification and fintech leadership.
SRTI Park has partnered with Builder.ai to empower startups in creating customized software and applications. This collaboration aims to provide cost-effective digital tools that facilitate rapid scaling and innovation, reinforcing SRTI Park’s commitment to driving technological advancement and sustainability in Sharjah’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.
Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly presided over the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Information Technology…