Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Kenya is accelerating its digital economy through fiber expansion, public Wi-Fi, and youth programs in Kirinyaga County. Over 102km of fiber now links all sub-counties to government networks, while digital skills initiatives and the Ajira program are preparing thousands of young people for global online work.
A new UAE–Kenya subsea cable by du and PEACE Cable establishes the first direct digital corridor between East Africa and the Gulf, boosting internet speed, AI collaboration, and cloud connectivity while positioning both nations as emerging hubs in the global digital economy.
Kenya and Kuwait are set to sign an MoU to boost cooperation in ICT, health, transport, and labour, with a strong focus on the digital economy. The partnership will support Kenya’s fiber rollout, digital hubs, and literacy programs, while enhancing bilateral ties through training and technology collaboration.
Kenya has launched its broadband mapping system under the Africa-BB-Maps initiative, supported by the ITU and EU. The system will guide policy and investment, identify connectivity gaps, and accelerate universal digital access while linking broadband to socio-economic priorities like education, health, and commerce.
Microsoft and G42 announced a $1 billion digital investment in Kenya, including a state-of-the-art green data centre to support Microsoft Azure. This initiative aims to enhance Kenya’s digital infrastructure, develop local AI models, expand connectivity, and ensure secure cloud services, fostering digital transformation and economic growth across East Africa.
Safaricom, M-Pesa Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation launch the Spark Accelerator program to support Kenyan start-ups, providing mentorship, funding, and go-to-market strategies to address the challenges of securing funding, market access, and scaling.
Airtel Kenya is set to deploy an additional 100 5G sites across Kenya, expanding its network from 15 to 32 counties. This expansion, enhancing both personal and business connectivity, will be supported by affordable 5G home broadband routers and diverse data plans.