Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The BTRC has proposed significant reforms to Bangladesh’s telecom licensing structure through the “Telecommunication Network and Licensing Regime Reform Policy 2025.” The new policy aims to simplify the system by reducing licensing layers and merging several services, with a focus on enhancing regulatory autonomy and modernizing the sector.
The Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has launched the LogisTech Challenge to drive innovation in the logistics sector. The competition focuses on improving fleet sustainability, alternative delivery solutions, and data-driven logistics intelligence. Participants will undergo training and pitch their solutions in January 2025.
Qatar’s Digital Business Award 2025 opens for nominations, promoting innovation across diverse digital sectors aligned with the country’s Digital Agenda 2030.
Robi Axiata’s Axentec launched Bangladesh’s first Tier-IV cloud platform, offering local enterprises data sovereignty, robust AI-ready infrastructure, and BDT-based pricing. The service is hosted in Jashore and Bhulta, designed to support key sectors and national data compliance.
Jordan’s telecommunications sector showed strong growth in Q4 2024, with mobile broadband subscriptions increasing by 4.1% to 8.046 million. The volume of mobile voice calls and text messages surged, while mobile data usage grew by 13%. Mobile phone penetration reached 69% of the population, reflecting broader digital adoption.
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.
Startup Grind Qatar held its inaugural Tech Startup Community Awards to honor individuals and startups driving innovation in Qatar’s tech ecosystem. With over 150 nominations, the event celebrated achievements in various categories, highlighting the importance of collaboration and community in fostering entrepreneurship and technological growth.
du and e& UAE have partnered with Nakheel to enhance telecom services in major Dubai developments. This collaboration under the Taawun initiative aims to provide advanced ICT infrastructure, supporting Nakheel’s projects. The partnership aligns with the UAE’s vision for smart infrastructure, ensuring exceptional telecom services for residents and businesses in Nakheel’s communities.
A partnership agreement was signed at WISE University to launch a mobile app providing free access to the Palestinian curriculum for students in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. This initiative aims to ensure educational continuity amidst ongoing conflict, benefiting over 600,000 students affected by the war.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated Egypt’s Government Data and Cloud Computing Center, known as P1, along Ain El Sokhna Road. This center, focusing on big data analytics and AI, represents a pioneering initiative in Egypt and North Africa, enhancing the region’s technological infrastructure.