Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Morocco plans a 500MW renewable-powered sovereign data centre in Dakhla, reinforcing digital sovereignty and regional hub ambitions amid a $1.22 billion digital modernization investment.
Nigeria’s NCC has introduced mandatory licensing and centralized routing for A2P messaging to combat spam, enhance consumer protection, and secure telecom revenues. The new framework imposes operational requirements and supports national goals for digital sovereignty and cybersecurity.
Egypt’s ICP Hub launch breaks blockchain barriers by enabling payments in Egyptian pounds and supporting decentralized apps with strong privacy. The World Computer Hacker League 2025 offers local developers a global platform to compete with substantial prizes. Operated by Mercatura Forum, ICP Hub Egypt aims to build national digital sovereignty and innovation.
Moroccan ministries and partners signed MOUs to promote ethical AI use, including a strategic data center partnership between the Ministry of Digital Transition and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. The collaboration focuses on innovation, training, sustainability, and digital sovereignty to strengthen national capacity in data governance.
ICP Hub Egypt has launched a groundbreaking initiative allowing Egyptian developers to build decentralized applications on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) while paying fees in local currency. Supported by Mercatura Forum, the hub invites developers to join the World Computer Hacker League 2025—a global hackathon offering $300,000+ in prizes. ICP uniquely enables AI on-chain, sovereign internet infrastructure, and enhanced privacy, positioning Egypt at the forefront of Web3 innovation.
Algeria’s new sovereign cybersecurity strategy focuses on building national resilience through local capacity development, advanced cyber defense, and collaborative efforts across public and private sectors. The initiative aligns with broader digital transformation goals and aims to secure the country’s digital future amid growing cyber threats.
Algeria is strengthening its cybersecurity framework to support its national digital transformation strategy. Key initiatives include the National Cybersecurity System, National Data Center, Sovereign Network Infrastructure, and legal measures for digital trust. These projects aim to ensure the security, resilience, and sovereignty of Algeria’s digital ecosystem.
Iraq has signed a strategic agreement with DIL Technology to create a unified telecom corridor, facilitating seamless data flow across its territory. The initiative streamlines data transmission, positioning Iraq as a secure alternative to maritime routes and enhancing its digital sovereignty, while generating long-term revenue opportunities.
Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission Chairman, Nawfal Abu Raghif, met with Huawei Iraq’s General Manager to discuss cooperation on telecom infrastructure, technical training, and data protection. The talks emphasized compliance with Iraq’s digital sovereignty rules and the expansion of telecom services in underserved regions, ensuring equitable service distribution.
Algeria has launched its first high-performance computing center in Oran to accelerate AI development. The center will support sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and cybersecurity, and align with the country’s goal of having AI contribute 7% to GDP by 2027. This project strengthens Algeria’s digital autonomy and innovation.