Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Meta and global telecom partners have completed the 2Africa subsea cable, the world’s longest open-access system spanning 33 countries and connecting three billion people. With capacity exceeding all existing African subsea cables combined, it promises faster, cheaper, and more reliable internet, accelerating digital inclusion, AI innovation, and regional economic growth.
Meta has announced a $600 billion nationwide investment to expand AI and data center infrastructure, reinforcing U.S. leadership in AI and digital innovation. The move will create jobs, drive semiconductor demand, and advance sustainability while transforming the nation’s digital backbone.
Meta and Safaricom are partnering on a $2.9 billion undersea cable linking Oman and Kenya, known as the Daraja Project. The 4,108 km system will expand 4G, 5G, and broadband capacity, strengthen Kenya’s role as a regional tech hub, and enhance internet access and digital services across East Africa.
Saudi Arabia’s IT Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha met Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the US to discuss collaboration in AI, metaverse, and digital innovation, reinforcing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals for tech leadership.
The $23 million Kenya–Oman subsea cable by Safaricom and Meta will provide East Africa with cheaper, more reliable internet and greater resilience. For Safaricom, it marks independence from leased systems, while Meta strengthens its role in Africa’s connectivity through major subsea, data, and fiber investments.
Meta unveiled AI tools and pledged support for Pakistan’s AI capacity building. Pakistan’s IT minister reaffirmed digital transformation priorities, emphasizing youth skills and cashless economy goals. Both agreed on expanding cooperation in AI adoption and digital innovation.
Pakistan and Meta discuss AI-driven digitalisation to boost public sector innovation under the Digital Pakistan vision, focusing on generative AI and local language models.
Meta and UAE’s Digital Wellbeing Council have launched Instagram ‘teen accounts’ with enhanced safety features and privacy controls, marking a regional first to protect young users from harmful content and support responsible digital engagement.
Meta has sent representatives to Nepal after the government set a deadline for social media platforms to register under new regulations. The registration is mandatory to avoid restrictions, with Meta and other platforms facing pressure to comply. The government aims to enforce compliance through potential penalties and platform bans.
MTN Group has partnered with Meta to enhance voice and video call quality on WhatsApp and other real-time calling apps across 12 MTN markets. By optimizing networks and applications, the initiative improves user experience. Nigeria is the first market to benefit, showing a 50% improvement in performance indicators.