Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Tanzania and Kenya have launched a new terrestrial fibre link between Dar-Es-Salaam and Mombasa, improving regional digital connectivity, resilience, and cross-border trade while advancing East Africa’s digital integration.
Oman’s TRA enhances telecom network capacity in Dhofar ahead of the Khareef 2025 season, ensuring quality and continuity during peak tourism.
Telecom firms in Herat distribute 7,500 free SIM cards daily to Afghan returnees, ensuring immediate connectivity through biometric registration. The initiative supports communication needs and complements broader humanitarian efforts amid mass refugee returns from Iran.
Zain KSA has officially appointed Eng. Saad bin Abdulrahman AlSadhan as CEO, recognizing his extensive experience and leadership in advancing the company’s digital transformation initiatives and strategic partnerships aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. His appointment reinforces Zain’s commitment to empowering government and enterprise sectors with innovative telecom and cloud solutions.
Following an $80 million loan, Orange Egypt has launched 5G services starting in high-demand areas, with nationwide expansion planned. The launch supports Egypt’s digital transformation efforts, including Smart City initiatives and growing demand for high-speed connectivity, while ensuring quality standards through collaboration with the NTRA.
In light of media reports about MCMC’s data request from telcos, Malaysian telecom operators and the regulator have jointly reassured users that all shared mobile usage data is anonymised and aggregated, ensuring no personal information is compromised. The MPD project supports policy-making and aligns with international data protection practices.
Ericsson and Orange Maroc have partnered to deploy advanced 5G core and cloud-native solutions, supporting Morocco’s planned standalone 5G launch in late 2025. This initiative aligns with the national Digital 2030 plan and regulatory targets for extensive 5G coverage, while collaboration between operators Maroc Telecom and Inwi aims to fast-track fiber and 5G infrastructure rollout.
Dialog Axiata reported a strong performance in Q1 2025, with revenue reaching Rs 43.3 billion, a 4% increase YoY. EBITDA grew 45% YoY to Rs 19.7 billion, with an EBITDA margin of 45.5%. NPAT rose 49% YoY to Rs 4.1 billion. The company also reported significant tax contributions and robust cash flow.
Bangladesh’s internet subscriber base showed signs of recovery in March 2025, with the addition of 750,000 new users. This growth follows a significant loss in subscribers over the previous months. The rise was driven by broadband subscriptions, while mobile user numbers continued to decline, including substantial losses from Banglalink and Teletalk.
Dialog Axiata has launched the IAX (India Asia Xpress) submarine cable system, enhancing Sri Lanka’s international connectivity. The system, part of a US$100 million investment, connects key regions like India, Singapore, and Europe. It complements Dialog’s existing infrastructure, ensuring high-speed, reliable, and secure data transmission.