Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Batelco’s Share+ fills a major gap in event connectivity. By offering boosted performance to all users—not just its own customers—it positions the operator as a national enabler of digital experiences, and signals a future where network quality becomes an integral part of live entertainment.
This upgrade gives Pakistan a major capacity and resilience boost, improving latency, strengthening its role on the Asia-Europe digital corridor, and enabling faster growth across cloud, content and fintech ecosystems.
Pakistan has accelerated its digital reform agenda, aiming for nationwide 100 Mbps speeds, major fibre expansion, and leadership in AI and cloud services. The country is pushing digital inclusion, women’s participation, and strong governance reforms, while calling for more investment to ensure universal and affordable connectivity.
Oman’s new MOFN service with Ciena boosts data speeds up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength, enhancing regional connectivity for AI and cloud infrastructure. The end-to-end managed service strengthens Oman’s status as a strategic digital hub linking Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe, while delivering secure, scalable bandwidth for hyperscalers and enterprise expansion.
Afghanistan’s telecom sector has achieved 80–85% network coverage, connecting 26 million users through new public and private telecom sites — a key step toward nationwide digital inclusion.
Syria has joined the Medusa Submarine Cable System to build its first international subsea connection, a move set to improve national connectivity and support post-conflict digital reconstruction through stronger regional telecom integration.
Gulf Bridge International (GBI) has partnered with Nokia to deploy a next-generation optical network across the Middle East, using a new terrestrial route through Iraq to link Europe, Asia, and the Gulf. The system will deliver 50Tbps capacity with 100G–400G services, improving regional resilience and supporting the region’s growing cloud and digital economy.
Etihad Salam has partnered with AFR-IX Telecom to connect Saudi Arabia to the Medusa Submarine Cable System via Aqaba, Jordan. The deal establishes Saudi Arabia as a key interconnection hub between Europe, Africa, and Asia, enhancing digital capacity and supporting Vision 2030 goals. The 8,760 km Medusa cable delivers up to 480 Tbps of bandwidth, enabling faster, more resilient data transfer across continents.
Nepal Telecom is accelerating 4G and fiber expansion across Karnali Province, extending coverage to 37 municipalities and targeting remote areas such as Dolpa and Humla by year-end.
Zain Omantel International (ZOI) secured four key global awards in 2025 for excellence in subsea and terrestrial connectivity, including honors for innovation, subsea cable leadership, and regional network operation. These accolades underscore ZOI’s vital role in connecting the Middle East to global digital markets, accelerating socio-economic growth and regional digital transformation.