Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Ooredoo Qatar will invest more than $500 million to build new terrestrial cable routes linking Iraq, Oman and Turkey. The project is designed to speed up data traffic, increase network resilience and offer alternatives to vulnerable maritime cables. It also supports Qatar’s growing regional role in digital infrastructure and cross-border connectivity.
Kazakhstan’s TNS-Plus and Turkmenistan’s Turkmentelecom signed an MoU to build a new cross-border telecom cable link, supported at senior government levels. A joint working group will finalize technical plans, with construction targeted for completion within a year. The project aims to enhance regional connectivity and further deepen digital cooperation between the two countries.
Niger has completed 1,031 km of fiber for the Trans-Saharan Backbone, enabling future links to Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Algeria, and Burkina Faso. The project aims to enhance digital access, reduce connectivity costs, and secure international bandwidth via neighboring countries’ submarine cable networks, though interconnection timelines remain unclear.
Pakistan underscored its strategic role as a regional trade bridge, calling connectivity the cornerstone of shared prosperity and sustainable development across Asia.
du and Aqaba Digital Hub signed an MoU to develop regional digital corridors linking the GCC, Levant, Asia, and Europe. The partnership enhances connectivity resilience, reduces latency, and positions Jordan as a key hub in the Middle East’s digital transformation.
Starlink has requested permission to buy bandwidth from Bangladesh and use it as a regional Point of Presence to expand its satellite internet footprint across South Asia. The move could strengthen Bangladesh’s role in regional data connectivity and diversify its submarine cable-dependent internet infrastructure.
Jordan has signed an MoU with Syria to provide internet capacity and develop fibre infrastructure linking Damascus to the Aqaba Digital City. The agreement strengthens regional digital integration, boosts Syria’s telecom sector, and consolidates Jordan’s role as a trusted regional hub for ICT and digital investment.
Jordan and Syria plan enhanced telecom cooperation through a shared fiber-optic corridor, positioning Jordan as a key internet transit hub. A technical forum will promote business ties, supporting regional connectivity and ICT sector growth.
Jordan is strategically leveraging its location and stability to become a digital gateway from Asia to Europe, complementing Saudi Arabia’s AI ecosystem. With advanced digital infrastructure and growing connectivity projects, Jordan aims to attract investment despite regional challenges and trade hurdles, positioning itself as a hub for future AI and digital growth.
Orange Jordan has become the first in the country to offer satellite broadband services, using the Eutelsat Konnect satellite. The service provides high-speed internet access, including remote areas, as part of a broader partnership with Eutelsat to expand connectivity across Africa and the Middle East, improving digital inclusion.