Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
A cut in the PEACE submarine cable in the Red Sea has disrupted internet connectivity between Asia, East Africa, and Europe. The incident, which occurred on March 4, 2025, is expected to cause significant delays in repairs, impacting business and communications for months. The cause of the damage is still unknown.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reduced the national usage of terrestrial bandwidth from India to 50%, aiming to create a fairer competition between submarine and terrestrial cable operators. The move also includes raising the revenue-sharing rate for ITCs and increasing the market share target for submarine cables.
Airtel has landed the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable in Chennai, further strengthening its global network. This addition, alongside the previously landed cable in Mumbai, enhances Airtel’s capacity and connectivity, benefiting businesses in India. The cable will provide 220 TBPs of global capacity, aiding Digital India’s growing demand for data.
Tunisie Telecom has signed a strategic partnership with Medusa for a high-capacity fibre optic link between Tunisia and France, aimed at enhancing regional and international digital connectivity. The project, set to be completed by early 2026, will boost Tunisia’s digital infrastructure and sovereignty.
Mobily has announced the landing of the Africa-1 submarine cable in Duba, Saudi Arabia, enhancing broadband connectivity across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. With a capacity of 96 terabits per second, it will power 5G networks, AI systems, and IoT, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
SLT-Mobitel has successfully landed the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable in Matara, Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s global connectivity. The cable, offering 130 Tbps of high-speed connectivity, will be operational by mid-2026, positioning Sri Lanka as a key player in the global telecommunications network.
Telecom Egypt has signed a cooperation agreement with Mobily to establish the first submarine cable linking Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This new cable, which will run through the Red Sea, aims to enhance connectivity and facilitate expansion to Europe, improving telecom services for both countries.
Internet services in Kuwait have been disrupted due to an interruption in the Falcon submarine cable operated by GCX. Efforts are underway to reroute data through alternative cables to ensure service continuity, coordinated by local service providers and the General Authority for Communications and Information Technology.