Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
China has launched Algeria’s AlSat 3A Earth-observation satellite aboard a Long March 2C rocket, advancing bilateral space cooperation. The mission supports Algeria’s land planning and disaster management goals and forms part of a broader program delivering satellites, ground systems, and technical support.
UNIDEES has appointed Taher Amine ELHOUARI as Head of Advisory & CSIRT, marking 20 years of cybersecurity leadership. Known for operational resilience over checkbox compliance, ELHOUARI is shaping enterprise security across Africa and the Middle East, unifying strategy, governance, and execution into real-world, future-ready defense programs.
Morocco has renewed satellite communication licenses for nine operators, including Maroc Telecom and Wana Corporate, reinforcing its position as a leading African space and satellite market. The move supports VSAT, GMPCS, and 3RP networks, strengthening national connectivity and Morocco’s long-term investment in space and digital infrastructure.
Nigeria’s telecom regulator has opened a public consultation on direct-to-device satellite services, exploring spectrum models, coexistence with mobile networks, and public-interest safeguards. The move aligns with Airtel Africa’s planned rollout of Starlink’s Direct to Cell service, signalling Nigeria’s readiness to shape a regulatory framework for satellite-mobile convergence.
Algeria has launched its third Earth observation satellite, Alsat-3A, enhancing national mapping and resource management, while Senegal plans a second satellite in 2026. Together, the moves highlight Africa’s accelerating space ambitions, with over 21 countries now running space programmes and more than 120 satellites in development.
EBRD has approved up to €190 million in development-linked financing for Tunisie Telecom to accelerate 5G rollout, expand fibre connectivity to 200,000 homes, modernise core networks, and connect to the Medusa submarine cable. The package includes EU grants and marks Tunisia’s first non-sovereign public-sector financing since 2012.
stc Bahrain has partnered with CFI to deliver secure, resilient ICT infrastructure for financial operations. The agreement introduces high-availability networks, next-generation security, and smart resilience systems, strengthening regulatory compliance, service continuity, and data protection while supporting Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and ambitions as a regional financial hub.
e& and IBM have unveiled an enterprise-grade agentic AI platform embedded into governance and compliance workflows. Built on watsonx Orchestrate and OpenPages, the solution enables reasoning, action, and traceability under enterprise controls, positioning e& among the region’s earliest adopters of trusted, governed agentic AI.
Saudi Arabia is launching SUSTAIN, an AI-powered national platform to connect government, business, investors, academia, and civil society. Developed with the World Economic Forum and Bain & Company, it aims to streamline partnerships, reduce fragmentation, and accelerate sustainable development, economic diversification, and long-term growth initiatives across the kingdom.
Dubai, UAE – 16 January 2026: Hytera Communications, a leading global provider of critical communications technologies and solutions, has further…