Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
PM Adviser Rehan Asad has unveiled a 30-year ICT roadmap for Bangladesh, prioritizing high-speed connectivity, digital sovereignty, and AI adoption. Key initiatives include free airport Wi-Fi by Eid, a review of 2025 telecom policies, and a crackdown on illegal devices to attract FDI. The plan aims to create 1 million tech-related jobs.
Pakistan raised $507 million in its inaugural 5G auction, with Jazz, Ufone, and Zong acquiring 480 MHz of spectrum. The move doubles national capacity, heralding faster 4G within months and 5G rollouts by late 2026. Notably, Pakistan also became the first Asian nation to eliminate right-of-way charges for fiber.
Oman has digitized 2,000+ government services, driving a 78% surge in digital transactions for 2025. Ranking 18th globally for digital growth, the Sultanate aims for the digital economy to reach 10% of GDP by 2040. This transformation, central to Oman Vision 2040, emphasizes ICT investment and national workforce development.
Business Line is enabling UAE enterprises to meet 2026 mandatory e-invoicing requirements by integrating automated, SAP-powered compliance solutions into their digital core, ensuring seamless real-time reporting to tax authorities.
ARY Digital Network acquires a majority stake in digital newsroom Nukta, integrating the platform into its broadcast and online ecosystem to expand digital journalism in Pakistan.
Pakistan is advancing its digital transformation through the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, establishing new governance bodies, launching a national AI policy, strengthening cybersecurity frameworks, expanding submarine cable connectivity, and accelerating broadband deployment. The government also aims to digitize public sector operations and protect citizens’ digital rights.
The partnership represents a significant consolidation of adtech power in emerging markets, linking one of the world’s most used utility apps with a comprehensive digital transformation suite. For Truecaller, the deal provides the localized sales and technical infrastructure needed to scale its global ad business, while AnyMind Group strengthens its position as a dominant player in the regional mobile marketing landscape.
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.
stc leads Middle East telecoms with a brand value of USD 17.6 billion and the region’s strongest BSI score, while Zain, du, and Mobily also showed significant growth. Middle Eastern telecoms are expanding into fintech, cloud, and digital services, boosting global competitiveness.