Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Egypt has been ranked third among Africa’s top technology investment destinations for 2024, securing $297 million across 89 deals. The country also leads in fixed broadband speeds and excels in internet speed, cybersecurity, and technological development, reinforcing its influence in Africa’s growing digital economy.
Pakistan has strengthened its digital infrastructure with the arrival of the Africa-1 submarine cable, addressing bandwidth issues and enhancing connectivity. This cable, part of a global consortium, will improve business operations and support digital transformation. Concerns remain over market concentration in Pakistan’s international gateway sector.
Al Moammar Information Systems Co. (MIS) sold its entire investment in OpenAI for $8.4 million, earning a profit of $3.4 million. The sale follows other strategic moves in AI and digital infrastructure, including partnerships and contracts in Saudi Arabia. MIS’s 2024 profits saw a 356% increase.
PTCL has successfully connected Pakistan to the Africa-1 submarine cable, marking a significant step in improving the country’s digital infrastructure. This high-capacity system will provide faster and more reliable internet services, aligning with Pakistan’s Digital Vision 2030. The cable system is expected to become operational by early 2026.
Qme, an Egypt-based B2B SaaS startup, raised $3 million in a seed round led by AHOY and GCC angel investors. The funding will enhance its AI-powered digital infrastructure solutions, which have already served over 100,000 customers, improving waiting times, reducing no-show rates, and eliminating paper-based systems.
Algeria aims for AI to contribute 7% to its GDP by 2027, investing in universities, incubators, and startups. The country is enhancing its digital infrastructure with fiber optics and 4G to support AI-driven economic growth, focusing on sectors like agriculture, industry, and services to transform its economy.
Telecom Egypt has signed agreements worth EGP 15 billion with Orange Egypt to enhance digital infrastructure and service offerings. These agreements will extend transmission services, connect mobile sites via fiber-to-the-site (FTTS), and support 5G rollout. The partnership solidifies both companies’ positions in the Egyptian telecom market.
Etihad Salam Telecom and center3 have strengthened their partnership to improve digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration aims to enhance network resilience, connectivity, and scalability, leveraging advanced data centers and internet exchanges to support Saudi Arabia’s growing ICT sector and contribute to the region’s digital transformation.
Ericsson highlighted its innovative technologies at LEAP 2025, showcasing 5G, AI, and network solutions in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The company introduced a 5G-powered robot for industrial automation and reinforced its long-term partnerships in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, including a collaboration with Batelco to enhance mobile network capabilities.
Mobily has announced a $905 million investment in data centers and submarine cables to enhance Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure. This initiative supports the Kingdom’s digital economy growth, contributing to Vision 2030 by improving global connectivity, expanding data center capacity, and fostering innovation across various industries.