Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Bangladesh will auction the 700MHz band for the first time on 14 January 2026, offering 25MHz to the country’s four mobile operators. The band—critical for long-range 4G and future 5G expansion—comes to auction after years of disputes and legal delays. With reduced spectrum prices and strong industry demand, the auction is expected to reshape nationwide coverage and improve mobile broadband quality.
Algeria’s telecom minister Sid Ali Zerrouki attended MWC 2025 in Doha, meeting top regional and global telecom leaders to strengthen cooperation on technology parks, digital transformation, and job creation. He held talks with Qatar’s ICT minister, engaged with Ooredoo on future partnerships, and joined a ministerial roundtable on technological infrastructure, reinforcing Algeria’s expanding international digital agenda.
Algeria has launched the pilot phase of a shared national call center to support telecom operators and digitize citizen services, aiming to grow the sector to US$1.2 billion by 2029. The hub will centralize customer support, enhance coordination, and create up to 10,000 jobs by 2027. Part of the “Digital Algeria 2030” strategy, the initiative aligns with Africa’s fast-growing BPO market and strengthens Algeria’s ambition to compete regionally and globally.
e& and Motorola Mobility have signed an MoU to co-develop AI-driven services and expand Motorola’s device footprint across the Middle East. The partnership will leverage e&’s retail and digital channels, co-invest in localized AI tools, execute joint marketing, and explore sustainability initiatives such as e-waste reduction and device recycling.
e& UAE has completed the world’s first IP+DWDM dual-800GE validation, proving high-capacity, low-latency transmission over an 800G DWDM network. The trial boosts EMIX gateway performance and integrates AI-based traffic prediction and energy optimisation, enabling greener, more efficient networks and paving the way for advanced 5.5G and AI-driven services.
Touch has boosted Lebanon’s mobile network capacity ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit, deploying temporary stations, enhancing coverage at major sites, and opening customer service centers during the event. Upgrades include expanded voice and data services, improved connectivity in key locations, and a special $1 package to support attendees and travelers.
Oman’s TRA clarified that all licensed telecom operators manage their social media accounts from within the country, despite the use of automated digital tools that may suggest external involvement. The Authority reaffirmed its regulations requiring local oversight and thanked the public for contributing to transparent and participatory regulatory discussions.
e& UAE has completed the world’s first IP+DWDM dual-800GE trial, validating high-capacity, low-latency transmission across EMIX’s core network. The solution improves cost efficiency and integrates AI-powered traffic prediction and energy optimisation, supporting the UAE’s digitalisation goals and laying the foundation for future AI-driven WAN networks and next-generation connectivity.
Huawei and Virgin Mobile UAE have partnered to pre-load the Virgin Mobile app on upcoming Huawei devices, enabling instant access to mobile plans during device setup. The integration streamlines onboarding, supports Huawei’s ecosystem strategy, and enhances Virgin Mobile’s digital-first customer experience, creating a frictionless and convenient connectivity journey for users across the UAE.
Saudi Arabia’s telecom sector posted revenues of SAR 80.46 billion and profits of SAR 14.46 billion in the first nine months of 2025, fuelled by demand for 5G, cloud services, and digital infrastructure. stc led the market with 80% of total profits, while Mobily and Zain KSA reported strong growth. Analysts expect continued momentum driven by Vision 2030 digital investments.