Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Oman’s MTCIT has launched its 2026-2030 digital economy roadmap, focusing on regional transformation centers, national AI platforms, and local cloud infrastructure manufacturing. Building on 2,200 already digitized services, the plan aims to enhance financial independence and technical sovereignty while driving the digital sector toward a 10% GDP contribution by 2040.
Saudi Arabia is scaling back the residential scope of The Line to prioritize the construction of massive AI data centers, leveraging the project’s renewable energy infrastructure to meet the global demand for high-performance computing.
Tech Mahindra and Microsoft have launched a governed, ontology-driven Agentic AI platform to help telecom operators automate data mesh transformation and enable auditable, real-time decision-making across complex network and revenue domains.
Converted’s acquisition of Mitcha integrates AI-driven advertising with e-commerce and payment processing to prioritize actual sales over traditional engagement metrics, with founder Hilda Louca joining the leadership team to drive regional growth.
The news details Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s strategic move to take its SheHacks program global, connecting Indonesian women-led AI startups with investors and government partners in Vietnam to accelerate their expansion across Southeast Asia.
The news describes stc Group’s new AI-powered pilot in Riyadh that provides real-time, context-aware translation between Arabic and English during phone calls, marking a major step in the telco’s ‘New Calling’ initiative toward seamless global communication.
The alliance represents a strategic shift toward AI-centric telecommunications in Northern Africa, backed by global infrastructure expertise. By pooling resources and sharing best practices, the participating operators aim to leapfrog traditional development stages and establish a robust digital economy powered by high-speed connectivity and automated intelligent systems.
Morobe Province is collaborating with PNG DataCo and Oracle to implement a comprehensive digital government platform utilizing AI and cloud technology. The project focuses on automating procurement, budget tracking, and citizen services to improve provincial transparency, with initial deliveries scheduled within the next year.
Mobile World Congress 2026 opened in Barcelona with AI, sovereign technology, and next-generation networks dominating discussions. Over 2,900 companies are showcasing innovations as smartphone sales rebound globally. Industry leaders are focusing on AI-driven services, 5G expansion, future 6G readiness, and Europe’s push for greater digital independence.
GITEX AFRICA Morocco will return to Marrakech from April 7 to 9, 2026, placing artificial intelligence at the center of discussions on sovereign digital growth. The event aims to advance public policy, scale high-impact solutions, and strengthen cross-border cooperation across Africa’s digital economy.