Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan’s telecom operators have warned that PTA’s 5G Information Memorandum imposes rollout obligations requiring $150–200 million in annual infrastructure investment per operator, excluding spectrum costs. In a low-ARPU market, executives say the framework is commercially unviable and must be revised to enable sustainable 5G deployment.
Pakistan’s telecom regulator has approved an MVNO framework and set the stage for a 5G spectrum auction in February. The reforms open the market to virtual operators, define phased rollout obligations, and significantly raise minimum broadband speed standards for both 4G and 5G nationwide.
Omantel has completed a major network upgrade enabling full 5G Standalone readiness without disrupting customers. The move unlocks advanced services such as Voice over 5G, ultra-low latency applications, and large-scale IoT, strengthening Oman’s digital foundation and positioning Omantel to support next-generation innovation across consumers and industries.
Ericsson and Zain Bahrain have expanded their 5G partnership by deploying Edge User Plane technology, enabling ultra-low latency connectivity to support Industry 4.0 applications, AI-driven operations, and large-scale digital transformation across Bahrain’s industrial and enterprise sectors.
du has partnered with Huawei to deploy the UAE’s first customised multi-band indoor 5G solution, integrating 3G, 4G, and 5G into a single unit. The initiative enhances indoor coverage, reduces power and space requirements, and supports du’s 5G-Advanced roadmap and sustainability goals.
TRAI’s November 2025 drive test in Baddi highlights significant disparities in voice and data performance across India’s major mobile operators. While Reliance Jio and Airtel lead in 5G and 4G data speeds, gaps remain in call quality, latency, and reliability, particularly for BSNL and Vodafone Idea, underscoring uneven network experience for users.
Aamir Ibrahim warns that dollar-linked 5G spectrum pricing will delay rollout and increase costs, urging the government to price spectrum in rupees. The telecom industry argues that pragmatic auction design, similar to the PIA privatisation model, is essential to accelerate connectivity, avoid GDP losses, and support Pakistan’s long-term digital growth.
Pakistan’s government plans to auction over 600MHz of telecom spectrum by early February 2026 to ease internet congestion, enable 5G rollout, and attract new operators. The move supports Digital Nation Pakistan and Connect 2030 goals, addressing spectrum shortages that have constrained mobile broadband performance and digital transformation.
Algeria has officially launched 5G services following regulatory approval and technical testing, enabling operators to begin nationwide rollout. The move supports the country’s digital economy strategy, with 5G expected to drive innovation, GDP growth, and advanced services across healthcare, industry, and education.
Algeria has officially launched 5G services following regulatory approval and technical testing, enabling operators to begin nationwide rollout. The move supports the country’s digital economy strategy, with 5G expected to drive innovation, GDP growth, and advanced services across healthcare, industry, and education.