Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
AMTOB supports Bangladesh’s proposed 2025 Telecom Licensing Reform Policy, calling it a vital modernization effort. The association refutes concerns of bias, highlights inefficiencies in the current fragmented system, and welcomes the new licensing structure. AMTOB stresses that reform is essential for sector growth, better service quality, and national digital progress.
Bahrain’s joint team from Bahrain Polytechnic and the University of Bahrain won first place in the Network Track of the Huawei ICT Competition 2024–2025 Global Finals. The victory highlights Bahrain’s commitment to developing ICT talent and the Polytechnic’s role in delivering practical, industry-aligned education. Huawei’s partnership supports skill development aligned with its Intelligent World 2030 vision.
Bahrain’s iGA hosted a delegation from Oman’s Foreign Ministry to share best practices in digital transformation. The visit highlighted Bahrain’s innovative eGovernment services and the Global Digital Twinning Initiative, strengthening GCC collaboration for smarter, citizen-focused governance across the region.
Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority received the 2025 Quality Choice Prize from ESQR, celebrating its outstanding regulatory practices and digital transformation efforts. The award underscores TRA’s dedication to quality and transparency and bolsters Bahrain’s status as a leader in telecom regulation and innovation in the Middle East.
Africa’s mobile landscape is booming with about 855 million cellular connections in 2025, often exceeding total population numbers due to multiple device ownership. Nigeria leads with 150 million connections, followed by South Africa and Egypt. This surge is driven by affordable smartphones, expanding 4G/5G networks, and mobile money innovations, positioning mobile technology as a key driver for communication, economic growth, and digital inclusion across the continent.
Telecom regulators and industry leaders from across the Middle East and Africa convened in Cairo to discuss leveraging crowdsourced data and AI-driven analytics to improve network quality and accelerate digital inclusion. The summit highlighted the shift to user-centric regulatory models and emphasized collaboration to support economic growth and enhanced connectivity across the region.
Société Nationale d’Assurance (SAA) has signed a strategic partnership with Algérie Télécom to enhance and secure its IT infrastructure. The collaboration aligns with SAA’s efforts to drive digital transformation and improve its technological capabilities.
Vodacom Group has appointed Mohamed Abdallah as CEO of Vodacom International Markets and Vodafone Egypt. Expanding his current role, Mohamed will oversee operations in Egypt, DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania under a unified leadership structure. This move supports Vodacom’s Vision 2030 growth strategy and operational simplification. Mohamed succeeds Diego Gutierrez, who stepped down after seven years leading international business.
ZTE and e& UAE have successfully completed a 5G private network Proof-of-Concept trial covering multi-band frequencies in the UAE. The trial validated technologies supporting real-time industrial applications like video streaming and intelligent alerts, reinforcing the partners’ commitment to accelerating digital transformation and fostering smart, sustainable industries across the region.
Omantel and GlobalTech Corporation have signed a non-binding MoU to explore collaboration on AI and Big Data services. The partnership aims to develop AI-driven solutions for sectors including fintech, retail, compliance, and HR, leveraging Omantel’s infrastructure and GlobalTech’s expertise. Aligned with Oman Vision 2040, this initiative supports economic diversification and technological innovation, aiming to enhance digital transformation and strengthen Oman’s position as a regional technology hub.