Google expands its Gemini service to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, supporting English and nine Indian languages. The Gemini chatbot is now available on any device with 6 GB RAM, enhancing communication and productivity for users in over 165 regions worldwide.
Telenor, Grameenphone, and Plan International have launched the “Digital Inclusion: Safe Digital Space for Girls and Youth Project” to empower over 2.35 million marginalized women and youth in Bangladesh, focusing on enhancing digital literacy, skills, and creating a safe online environment.
Edgnex Data Centres by Damac has announced a new state-of-the-art data centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, to support the region’s growing digital economy. Scheduled for completion in late 2025, this facility will enhance service reliability and meet the rising demand for cloud services, AI deployments, and internet usage in Southeast Asia.
Pakistan is launching the MM1 communication satellite on May 30 to enhance its communication infrastructure. The satellite will address the increasing demand for high-speed internet and connectivity. This follows the successful ICUBE-Q lunar mission, highlighting the crucial role of satellites in disaster management, environmental monitoring, and technological advancement.
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a feasibility study grant to CdNet Communications Ltd for the Bangladesh International Submarine Cable (Bagha-1). This project aims to boost internet capacity and quality across Bangladesh, enhancing digital infrastructure and connectivity for advanced services like 5G and international data centers.
PTCL and Mashreq Pakistan have signed an agreement for primary data centre colocation services at PTCL’s Tier-III Data Centre. This partnership aims to enhance Mashreq’s digital retail banking operations with state-of-the-art infrastructure and managed security, supporting PTCL’s role in advancing telecom infrastructure and economic growth in Pakistan.
The SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2024, held in Dubai, marked a pivotal moment for the global telecommunications sector. Focusing on “Integration, Intelligence & Sustainability,” the summit brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of digital infrastructure.
Robi Axiata and Banglalink have signed an MoU to explore network sharing, aiming to improve 4G access across Bangladesh. This collaboration seeks to enhance cost efficiency, service quality, and environmental sustainability, with support from regulatory bodies and the government’s ‘Smart Bangladesh’ vision.
Veon, Beeline Kazakhstan, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the GSMA are collaborating to bridge the “AI language gap” for under-represented languages. They aim to develop tools and documentation for languages spoken in countries like Pakistan, Ukraine, and Bangladesh, addressing the limited resources that hinder AI model performance and inclusivity.
Wink Pay, in collaboration with Visa and Codebase Technologies, has launched Lebanon’s first service for instant issuance of Visa prepaid virtual cards. This innovative solution facilitates secure, transparent payments and digital financial inclusion, targeting over 5 million Lebanese, particularly benefiting those without traditional bank accounts.
