Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Turkey’s latest 5G auction generated $3.534 billion including VAT, surpassing revenue expectations. Turkcell, Türk Telekom, and Vodafone secured key 700MHz and 3.5GHz frequencies, paving the way for 5G rollout starting April 2026. The tender also extended 2G and 3G authorizations until 2042.
Turkcell successfully conducted Türkiye’s first high-altitude 5G field test at 1,250 meters in Rize’s Kaçkar Mountains during the UTMB ultramarathon. The event showcased the operator’s technological readiness in extreme conditions and introduced real-time athlete tracking, reinforcing both innovation and sports tourism for the region.
Turkey’s draft energy agreement proposal to Iraq seeks to renew cooperation amid the ending of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline deal in 2026. Despite arbitration disputes and pipeline shutdowns since 2023, both nations aim to revive oil flows linked to strategic regional infrastructure projects.
Turkey’s National Technology Initiative supports nearly 100 startups annually to attend major global tech events, fostering investor engagement, partnerships, and market expansion. Applications for the 2025–2026 round are open until July 1.
The Net5.5G Pioneer Award ceremony at UBBF 2024 in Istanbul honored achievements in Net5.5G innovation, highlighting advancements in 400GE, SRv6, and network slicing. The award celebrated carriers driving digital transformation in the Arab and African regions, setting a milestone for network development.
Edge has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Baykar at SAHA Expo 2024 to integrate Edge’s guided munitions with Baykar’s UAS platforms. This partnership aims to enhance defense capabilities and market presence, ensuring swift responses to market demands while strengthening supply chain security for both companies.
e& enterprise, the enterprise arm of UAE’s e& group, has acquired Turkey’s GlassHouse Bilgi Sistemleri for $60 million. The acquisition strengthens e&’s service portfolio, particularly in data backup, business continuity, and SAP infrastructure. GlassHouse’s financials will be consolidated into e&’s from September 1, with minimal impact on overall figures.
Türkiye’s indigenous telecommunications satellite, Turksat 6A, will launch next month via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Expanding coverage to India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the satellite will increase Türkiye’s reach from 3.5 billion to over 5 billion people, covering more than 65% of the world’s population.
Google expands its Gemini service to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, supporting English and nine Indian languages. The Gemini chatbot is now available on any device with 6 GB RAM, enhancing communication and productivity for users in over 165 regions worldwide.
Zoom Video Communications has appointed Mohannad AlKalash as the managing director for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan. AlKalash will lead Zoom’s expansion in the region, particularly aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. He brings extensive experience from Cisco and has founded the CyberxWorld platform.