Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Over 90% of organisations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia plan to deploy AI agents, but Cisco warns security frameworks are lagging. As agentic AI gains autonomy, risks shift to the AI supply chain and enterprise tools. Cisco urges lifecycle protection through vulnerability scanning, runtime guardrails, and zero-trust controls.
ai security, middle east, cisco
Telefónica and stc have expanded their partnership into satellite communications, developing multi-orbit connectivity solutions for the Middle East. The collaboration targets aviation, maritime, emergency services, and rural coverage, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals and enabling secure, high-performance connectivity beyond terrestrial networks.
Airtel Africa will introduce direct-to-device satellite services through a Starlink partnership starting in 2026, extending mobile coverage to remote regions. The hybrid terrestrial-satellite model aims to close rural connectivity gaps, support digital inclusion, and position satellite technology as a mainstream layer in Africa’s mobile networks.
Batelco and Qareeb are launching Bahrain’s first edge data centre at Beyon’s Data Oasis, delivering sovereign, low-latency and AI-ready colocation for enterprises and cloud providers across the GCC. The facility strengthens Bahrain’s position as a regional digital infrastructure hub.
NTT Data, Sumitomo, and JA Mitsui Leasing have formed a new joint venture to build the 8,100-km Intra-Asia Marine Cable linking Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. The US$1 billion system will use advanced WSS and SDM technologies to deliver 320 Tbps capacity and enhance regional digital resilience.
Lebanon’s digital learning pilot reached over 2,400 students and 285 teachers across 14 public schools using UNICEF’s Madristi platform. The research highlights classroom engagement, challenges, and best practices, outlining what is needed to scale digital learning and strengthen 21st-century skills across public education systems.
Lebanon and Jordan signed 21 agreements covering trade, digital transformation, infrastructure, energy, education, and public sector reform. The accords, concluded in Beirut, aim to deepen bilateral cooperation, modernize institutions, and support sustainable development across economic and social sectors in both countries.
KFH–Bahrain has launched eKey 2.0 for Business in partnership with Beyon Connect, enabling secure digital identity verification for faster onboarding and banking access. The initiative strengthens cybersecurity, reduces fraud, and aligns with Bahrain’s national vision for trusted, customer-centric digital services.
Orange Jordan has expanded its fiber network to Tafila and Aqaba, bringing high-speed internet to over 1.1 million homes nationwide. The rollout supports Jordan’s digital transformation goals, strengthens nationwide connectivity, and reinforces Orange Jordan’s position as the country’s fastest fixed fiber network.
SolvFast will launch its AI-powered digital transformation platform in Egypt and Saudi Arabia in 2026, offering over 50 integrated business applications and an AI assistant to help enterprises, especially SMEs, replace fragmented systems with unified, intelligent operations across the MENA region.