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 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.
Pakistan to launch a unified digital platform integrating government services nationwide, enabling citizens to access public services online with biometric and mobile verification, scheduled for August 2025.
Opensignal will assist Pakistan’s PTA by providing real-time, crowd-sourced network performance data to improve QoS and QoE, guiding evidence-based decisions for better connectivity nationwide.
Pakistan launches a new platform to boost digital trade and regional business connectivity, supporting e-commerce growth and regional integration through digital corridors.
Pakistan’s telecom operators are shifting towards digital services like fintech, cloud, and AI to counter declining revenues and rising costs. With data making up 65% of revenue, companies invest in digital ecosystems and enterprise solutions, aiming for sustainable growth supported by government policies and innovation.