Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan’s mobile phone industry is preparing for a mid-year 5G rollout, with local manufacturers aligning production and technology strategies, though adoption is expected to grow gradually as spectrum allocation, network deployment and handset affordability shape early market uptake across major urban centres.
Egypt plans to increase local mobile phone production to 15 million units next year and begin exports, as part of a broader ICT strategy focused on manufacturing, digital exports, skills development, and infrastructure expansion.
Egypt plans to scale local mobile phone manufacturing to 15 million units and begin exports, supported by growing local value creation and international brand participation. The initiative is part of a wider ICT strategy focused on digital exports, skills development, nationwide fibre rollout, and post-5G network expansion.
Pakistan has produced 14.24 million mobile phones locally in H1 2025, reducing imports to 0.86 million. Supported by government policies and Chinese investments, domestic manufacturing now dominates, with strong demand for affordable keypad phones and growing smartphone production.
Pakistan assembled 12.5 million mobile phones locally in the first five months of 2025, significantly outpacing imports which declined by over 16%. PTA recorded 10,000 telecom complaints in May with a 98% resolution rate. Smartphones make up 67% of devices on Pakistan’s networks, highlighting strong local production and ongoing sector improvements.
Pakistan’s local mobile manufacturing now meets 94% of the country’s demand, with significant contributions from Chinese brands. The sector has seen record growth, with over 29 million devices locally manufactured in FY2023-24, creating 60,000 jobs. This growth is driven by government support, regulatory initiatives, and increased mobile internet usage.
Egypt’s mobile manufacturing sector is expanding, boasting a production capacity of 11.5 million units and $87.5 million in investments. This growth has created 2,050 jobs and is part of an effort to increase the ICT sector’s GDP contribution, with significant new factories from Samsung, Vivo, and others driving this surge.