Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan will hold separate 5G spectrum auctions for Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK after the national rollout. PTA favours free spectrum allocation in these regions to boost infrastructure investment, alongside reforms to remove right-of-way charges and streamline approvals.
Robi Axiata posted a record Tk 9.37bn profit in 2025, up 33% year-on-year, driven by data growth and lower operating costs. Subscriber base reached 57.4m, with 99% 4G coverage and a 17.5% cash dividend declared.
e& UAE has partnered with Aster Pharmacy to deploy the ‘Pharmacy in a Box’ solution, providing advanced digital infrastructure to streamline operations, enhance customer experience and support expansion across existing and new outlets.
PTA reaffirmed its commitment to fair tariffs and improved mobile services under the Mobile Tariff Regulations 2025. The regulator highlighted upcoming spectrum investment, strict consent rules for value-added services and accessible complaint channels to protect consumer rights.
Omantel posted record 2025 net profit of OMR371m ($974m), up 88% year-on-year, driven by stronger domestic operations and higher earnings from its 21% stake in Zain Group, whose profit doubled to $777m.
Algeria has opened registration for Global Africa Tech 2026, a continental telecom and technology summit set for late March. The event will gather regional and international stakeholders to discuss digital transformation, connectivity and innovation across Africa.
e&’s stake in Vodafone has risen to 17.005% due to Vodafone’s share buyback programme, while its total holdings remain at 3.94 billion shares. The move strengthens e&’s global exposure strategy, following its initial $4.4bn investment in 2022.
Dell and Ooredoo signed an MoU to deliver AI-as-a-Service via Ooredoo’s Sovereign AI Cloud, powered by Dell infrastructure. The partnership will provide secure, locally governed AI capabilities to enterprises and government entities in Qatar, supporting digital transformation and sovereign AI ambitions.
Zain Group reported strong 2025 results with revenue of $7.44bn up 14%, net income doubling to $777m, EBITDA margin 34%. Customer base reached 50.9m. Data, enterprise, fintech and new verticals drove growth, supported by $1.5bn capex and 5G expansion across key markets. Eight markets delivered improved operational performance and profitability.
Ericsson and specialized by stc have signed an MoU to advance mission-critical communications in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration will focus on secure, AI-enabled connectivity, IoT integration and real-time communication tools to strengthen public safety and support Vision 2030 digital transformation goals.