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 operator Zong has asked the government to apply industrial electricity tariffs and grant fiscal parity for its cloud and data centre operations, warning that high power costs and unequal incentives are weakening local competitiveness and discouraging global cloud investment.
Saudi Arabia has begun construction of the world’s largest government data centre in Riyadh, a 480MW Tier IV facility developed by SDAIA. The Hexagon data centre will host hundreds of government systems and support data sovereignty, AI innovation, and the Kingdom’s digital economy ambitions.
Saudi Arabia has begun construction of the Hexagon Data Centre in Riyadh, set to become the world’s largest government data centre with 480MW capacity. Led by SDAIA, the Tier IV facility will support government digital services, strengthen national data infrastructure, and advance Vision 2030 goals for a knowledge-based, AI-driven economy.
Saudi Telecom Company, through Center3, has signed an MoU with PIF-backed Humain to form a joint venture developing AI-focused data centres in Saudi Arabia. The partnership targets up to 1GW of capacity, combining Center3’s infrastructure scale with Humain’s AI mandate to support high-density computing workloads.
stc’s center3 and PIF-backed AI firm Humain have formed a joint venture to build and operate AI-focused data centres in Saudi Arabia, with capacity of up to 1GW. The partnership aims to deliver high-density, low-latency infrastructure to support large language models, mission-critical AI workloads, and the kingdom’s growing AI ecosystem.
Google has secured long-term solar power supply in Malaysia through agreements with TotalEnergies and a Shizen Energy-led consortium to support its data centres. The deals, enabled by Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme, reflect rising data centre energy demand and the growing role of renewable PPAs in meeting sustainability and cost objectives.
Pakistan’s IT minister says Zong’s new Islamabad data centre represents a major step in strengthening national digital infrastructure. With 5G and satellite internet services in the pipeline, expanded fibre connectivity, AI-driven cloud development, and the launch of a digital corridor under CPEC, Pakistan is positioning itself for accelerated digital transformation and future-ready connectivity.
Telkom Indonesia has inaugurated its first neuCentrIX data centre in Papua, expanding its national network to 28 facilities. Located in Jayapura, the new Tier-II standard facility features 96 racks and will support government and business digital needs across the region. The project aligns with Indonesia’s Asta Cita program to equalise digital infrastructure nationwide and strengthen national digital sovereignty. Telkom says the new facility will play a key role in accelerating regional digital transformation and building long-term digital resilience in eastern Indonesia.
This strategic funding strengthens Digital Edge’s position as a key enabler of Indonesia’s AI and hyperscale ecosystem, aligning with the country’s broader digital transformation goals.
Botswana and Nigeria are pushing forward with renewable-powered data centre projects. In Botswana, AAAS Energy and ChillMine will build a campus integrated with solar, storage, and gas projects. In Nigeria, Nugi Group plans a Tier IV facility in Calabar, leveraging hydro, solar, and gas to decentralise and expand digital infrastructure.