Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Nokia and Zain KSA have completed Saudi Arabia’s first live Cloud RAN site, achieving 1.5 Gbps peak download speeds. This trial demonstrates the advantages of cloud-native architectures, such as reduced costs and faster deployment. It supports Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and paves the way for future innovations, including AI-RAN and 6G.
RANsemi, a British wireless semiconductor company, has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s ACES to drive 5G Open RAN innovation. Backed by the NTDP and MCIT, the collaboration aims to develop a cutting-edge 5G small cell system. The project will be showcased at the Small Cells World Summit in June 2025.
Saudi Arabia is enhancing its social welfare services through digital platforms like Absher, Ehsan, and Ikhtiyar. These platforms streamline services such as leave notifications for domestic workers, charitable donations, and housing support for low-income families, improving accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in delivering public services.
Saudi Arabia participated in the 2025 Global Youth Summit in Cuba, led by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST). The summit, focusing on amplifying youth voices in ICT, featured discussions on youth priorities, digital empowerment, and AI advancements. The Kingdom emphasized youth development in technology and innovation sectors.
Saudi telecom companies saw a 69% increase in net profits for 2024, reaching SAR 28.39 billion ($7.57 billion), driven by higher revenues, a growing customer base, and operational efficiency. Stc led with a profit surge of 85.7%, while Mobily showed growth, and Zain experienced a decline due to higher costs.
The Communications, Space, and Technology Commission has deployed teams at the Two Holy Mosques to monitor telecommunications services during Ramadan. Their efforts include ensuring network quality, inspecting sales outlets, and analyzing radio signals to ensure reliable communication, enhancing the digital experience for pilgrims and maintaining service standards.
Absher, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior platform, processed over 430 million transactions in 2024, including ID renewals, passport services, residency permits, and vehicle-related operations. It also facilitated over 26 million transactions on its business portal, supporting digital transformation and enhancing government service delivery across the country.
Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved key international initiatives, including hosting talks for peace in Ukraine and strengthening women’s empowerment under Vision 2030. The Kingdom’s leadership also emphasized support for Palestine, Syria, and regional cooperation. Additionally, positive economic growth and national projects were reviewed, along with celebrations of Saudi Flag Day.
Riyadh is set to lead data center growth in the Middle East, with a 37% annual growth rate expected through 2027. Driven by Saudi Arabia’s focus on digital transformation and AI initiatives, global tech companies like Microsoft and AWS are investing heavily, positioning the country as an AI powerhouse.
stc has deployed Juniper 400G routers in its core network and data centres to enhance its 5G network capacity across 75 cities in Saudi Arabia. The upgrade increases bandwidth, reduces energy consumption, and simplifies operations, supporting stc’s goal of expanding 5G services while lowering operational costs and carbon footprint.