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 Supernet has rebranded as SupernetGlobal and established Dubai as its first regional hub to expand into Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia markets. The strategy aims to export Pakistani ICT expertise while supporting IT exports and long-term foreign exchange growth.
Pakistan will host a National AI Conference in early 2026 to strengthen its AI ecosystem and promote adoption across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, fintech, and governance. The event will connect startups, policymakers, researchers, and investors to drive innovation and responsible AI use.
PTCL has completed the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers, creating a larger telecom platform pending full integration. The deal aims to strengthen customer experience, expand reach, and accelerate innovation under regulatory oversight.
Nayatel’s SIP Trunk enables Pakistani businesses to manage high call volumes through scalable, internet-based voice channels. Integrated with cloud PBX, it improves reliability, reduces costs, and supports multi-branch and remote teams across sectors like banking, healthcare, and customer service.
Mobile apps accounted for 81 percent of Pakistan’s digital transactions in FY2024–25, as digital payments surpassed Rs. 55 trillion in value. Strong growth was also recorded in Raast payments, card usage, and digital banking, highlighting the country’s accelerating shift toward mobile-led financial services.
Pakistan will host a national AI conference in early 2026 to strengthen its artificial intelligence ecosystem and promote emerging technologies. The event will convene startups, researchers, policymakers, and investors to discuss AI applications, innovation challenges, and responsible adoption across key sectors of the economy.
Engro has acquired over 10,000 telecom towers from Deodar through a $475 million fully Shariah-compliant financing structure. The deal strengthens local ownership of telecom infrastructure and supports cost-efficient shared tower models aligned with Pakistan’s digital growth goals.
Pakistan’s mobile phone manufacturing rose 8 percent year-on-year in November 2025, with local production meeting 93 percent of national demand. Output stabilised after earlier slowdowns, while analysts expect continued growth driven by currency stability, lower inflation, and stronger consumer demand.
Aamir Ibrahim warns that dollar-linked 5G spectrum pricing will delay rollout and increase costs, urging the government to price spectrum in rupees. The telecom industry argues that pragmatic auction design, similar to the PIA privatisation model, is essential to accelerate connectivity, avoid GDP losses, and support Pakistan’s long-term digital growth.
Pakistan’s telecom industry is urging the government to adopt a pragmatic spectrum auction policy that reflects economic realities and prioritises long-term digital growth. With limited spectrum constraining connectivity, operators warn that misaligned pricing could slow investment, cost billions in GDP, and undermine 5G, financial inclusion, and digital transformation goals.