Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
PTCL is set to present a $1 billion investment plan to the CCP to secure merger approval with Telenor amid significant financial losses, outstanding privatization payments, and regulatory challenges, raising concerns over the company’s future stability and growth.
PTCL Group and TPL Corp have partnered to deploy M2M devices, secure data centers, and managed network services, enhancing Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and operational efficiency as part of their shared vision for a technology-driven future.
Pakistan is enhancing telecom network quality through a collaboration with Opensignal for real-time performance monitoring, while satellite internet rollout faces delays due to new security-focused regulations for foreign operators.
Pakistan plans to enable secure remittances from overseas workers, especially in Gulf countries, via PayPak. The initiative aims to digitize payments and improve access for millions of Pakistanis abroad.
Pakistan’s National Assembly committee raised concerns over poor internet coverage in underserved regions and delays in spectrum auctions. Projects are underway but challenges persist due to payment defaults, infrastructure gaps, and legal issues related to telecom mergers.
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.
Starlink is set to launch satellite internet services in Pakistan by late 2025. The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board is finalizing licensing rules, with Starlink leading applications. Other firms like Amazon and OneWeb are also interested in entering Pakistan’s satellite internet market.
Pakistan’s telecom sector is pivoting from infrastructure-heavy models to digital platforms. Jazz’s sale of tower assets to Engro freed capital to invest in fintech, healthtech, and other digital services, aligning with global shifts driven by rising costs and changing consumer demand.
Pakistan’s central bank plans a pilot for a digital currency and is finalizing virtual asset regulations. The move complements efforts by the Pakistan Crypto Council to adopt blockchain innovations. Inflation has stabilized and IMF reforms are ongoing, supporting financial modernization and regulatory development.
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.