Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Bahrain’s TRA held the 18th SSCC meeting to strengthen spectrum strategy ahead of WRC-27, focusing on enabling 6G, satellite, and 5G private networks. The committee stressed innovation, security, and data sovereignty under Bahrain’s Vision 2030. Eng. Mariam Al Juman reaffirmed TRA’s commitment to world-class connectivity and future-ready digital transformation.
Jazz welcomed the PTCL–Telenor merger, calling it a chance to end unsustainable price wars and prioritize digital innovation. The company urged regulators to ensure fair competition and spectrum allocation to advance Pakistan’s digital transformation.
Ooredoo Kuwait partnered with Infobip to launch the Agentic AI-powered CXOP platform, enabling Kuwaiti enterprises to deliver personalized, autonomous customer interactions across multiple channels — a milestone in the country’s conversational AI and digital transformation journey.
Jordan introduced mobile number portability, allowing users to switch operators without changing numbers. The reform boosts consumer choice, digital identity integration, and fair competition across the telecom sector — driving quality, innovation, and network investment in line with national digital economy goals.
du has launched its 5G+ network in the UAE, based on 5G-Advanced, delivering up to 2x faster speeds than 5G. Supporting AI, AR, and UHD streaming, the network offers peak speeds of 5.4Gbps, enhanced reliability, and future-ready features like URLLC and mMTC for smart industries.
e& delivered robust H1 2025 results with revenue of AED 34.9 billion (+23.3% YoY) and net profit of AED 8.8 billion (+60.7% YoY). Strong operational milestones, global acquisitions, AI and 5G innovation, and strategic partnerships reinforced its position as a global technology leader driving digital transformation.
Zain Bahrain has launched its flagship accelerator programme, Zain Great Idea (ZGI), in the kingdom for the first time. The initiative begins with an intensive Boot Camp for Bahraini tech entrepreneurs, offering training, mentorship, and workshops. One finalist startup will ultimately secure a transformative experience in Silicon Valley.
The TRC’s Q2 2025 report shows strong momentum in mobile and broadband usage. Mobile broadband grew 15.5% year-on-year, while fiber broadband reached 76% of subscriptions. SMS traffic surged 18.2%, and average monthly broadband usage hit 605 GB. Fixed voice services, however, continued their gradual decline.
Grameenphone and Robi Axiata have commercially launched Bangladesh’s first 5G services, covering all divisional headquarters. The rollout is hailed as a transformative milestone, promising faster connectivity, innovation, and economic growth, while positioning Bangladesh for a more advanced digital future.
Indus Towers, backed by Bharti Airtel, is expanding into Africa with initial operations in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. The move leverages Airtel’s presence and aims to diversify revenues. Indus will face competition from established players like ATC, IHS Towers, and Helios in Africa’s growing telecom infrastructure market.