Egypt's mobile phone subscription rise 9% in Q3
EGYPT 12 JAN

Egypt's mobile phone subscription rise 9% in Q3

The number of mobile phone subscriptions in Egypt increased by 8.75 percent year on year to 120.85 million in September 2025 from 111.12 million in 2024, according to statistics from the ICT ministry. Mobile penetration rose to 109.22 percent from 102.14 percent, up by 7.08 percentage points.

Zain Group receives upgrade to 'A' score from CDP for 2025
MIDDLE EAST 12 JAN

Zain Group receives upgrade to 'A' score from CDP for 2025

Zain Group said it has achieved the top 'A' score in the recently published list from the non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for 2025. CDP benchmarks show average scores of 'B' for Telecom and Data Centres, and 'C' for the global average, with Zain being the only company based in Kuwait to achieve an 'A' score. Out of 252 globally disclosing telecoms services companies, only 30 received an 'A' score, placing Zain in the top 12 percent of the industry.

STC gains naming rights for renovated lecture hall at University of Bahrain
BAHRAIN 12 JAN

STC gains naming rights for renovated lecture hall at University of Bahrain

STC Bahrain has partnered with the University of Bahrain (UOB) to introduce a newly renovated lecture hall, now named STC Hall, at the University's College of Arts.

E& signs fintech development MoU with Freedom Telecom
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 12 JAN

E& signs fintech development MoU with Freedom Telecom

Freedom Telecom International (FTI), a subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp (FRHC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with E& to explore collaboration opportunities in telecommunications and financial technology in international markets. The MoU sets a framework for applying the two organisations' respective strengths in fintech, digital financial services and telecoms innovation. They intend to assess opportunities for new digital value propositions, explore advisory capabilities, and examine areas fo

Omantel completes network upgrade to prepare for 5G Standalone
OMAN 12 JAN

Omantel completes network upgrade to prepare for 5G Standalone

Omantel said it has completed a major network upgrade with no disruption to customers, positioning it to deploy 5G Standalone use cases, including Voice over 5G, tailored network services, RedCap, large-scale IoT connectivity and ultra-low latency applications. Omantel said the upgrade reinforces its long-term technology roadmap and its commitment to building a resilient, future-ready network that delivers tangible value to the economy and society.

Sama X obtains licence to provide Starlink services in Bahrain
BAHRAIN 12 JAN

Sama X obtains licence to provide Starlink services in Bahrain

Starlink global reseller Sama X has been licensed by Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to the satellite internet services in Bahrain. Sama X offers turnkey services ranging from customer consultation to rapid installation and activation as well as local support, including a round-the-clock call centre serving in both English and Arabic. Sama X is backed by privately owned company Alghanim Industries. It will provide the high-speed internet service to every corner of Bahrain using Starl

Space42 signs MoU with Abu Dhabi Police to advance autonomous mobility
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 12 JAN

Space42 signs MoU with Abu Dhabi Police to advance autonomous mobility

Space42 and Abu Dhabi Police have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop smart security and autonomous vehicle systems. Under the MoU, Abu Dhabi Police will support road safety initiatives and minimise traffic incidents by applying AI and autonomous mobility capabilities in police vehicles. The two parties will also provide joint training and field programmes and establish the foundations to expand the scheme to a broader range of applications in Abu Dhabi's transport network, in line with the lead

Iran shuts down internet amid widespread violence
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF) 12 JAN

Iran shuts down internet amid widespread violence

Iran has shut down the internet across the country to curb growing unrest as videos showed anti-government protests raging across the country, Reuters reported. Iran's Ministry of information and communications technology said the decision to shut down the internet was made "by the competent security authorities under the prevailing circumstances of the country."

Ooredoo Qatar signs up Al Abdulghani Motors to provide transport for Doha Marathon
QATAR 9 JAN

Ooredoo Qatar signs up Al Abdulghani Motors to provide transport for Doha Marathon

Ooredoo Qatar has announced an agreement with Al Abdulghani Motors to become the exclusive mobility partner of the Doha Marathon for three years. Al Abdulghani Motors will provide two raffle draw vehicles during the running race, too. The company will also support the event by providing the necessary workforce to ensure smooth and efficient operations during it.

Cerillion wins GBP 42 mln five-year BSS/OSS contract from Omantel
OMAN 9 JAN

Cerillion wins GBP 42 mln five-year BSS/OSS contract from Omantel

Cerillion said it has secured a GBP 42.5 million new contract from Omantel to supply and install its BSS/OSS suite. It will provide ongoing support and maintenance, as well as hosting and managed services over the five-year subscription term, following an initial implementation period. This agreement is Cerillion's largest contract win to date and helps to underpin existing market forecasts for FY 2026 and beyond.

Oman Data Park partners ZainTech to offer cybersecurity services
OMAN 9 JAN

Oman Data Park partners ZainTech to offer cybersecurity services

Oman Data Park (ODP) has begun a partnership with ZainTech to strengthen cybersecurity services in Oman and selected regional markets. They will combine ODP's in-country infrastructure and its understanding of national regulatory and data residency requirements with the Zain Group subsidiary's integrated cybersecurity portfolio and regional expertise. Together, they aim to support government and enterprise customers in protecting critical data, systems and digital operations in what they call an increasingl

Aramco Digital prepares to offer industrial communications services on 450 MHz band
SAUDI ARABIA 9 JAN

Aramco Digital prepares to offer industrial communications services on 450 MHz band

Aramco Digital says it will launch a national industrial communications network operating in the 450 MHz band. It will deliver secure and reliable industrial connectivity across Saudi Arabia to support sectors that require continuous operations and dependable communications for critical assets and facilities. Its portfolio will include tailored connectivity packages and a new generation of radios for demanding industrial environments combining rugged, industrial-grade design with AI capabilities, enhanced s

TURKEY 8 JAN

Argela takes part in Turkey-hosted 5G Technologies Promotion event

Argela has shared details of its recent participation in the 5G Technologies Promotion Event, a digital transformation-focused meeting hosted in Ankara by Turkey's ICT authority BTK. Argela's showing included state-of-the-art innovations in 5G and beyond communication technologies. The company detailed its vision for building smarter, more agile and sustainable network infrastructures, including AI-powered network management, cloud-based system integrations, and end-to-end orchestration platforms. Visitors

OMAN 8 JAN

Omantel unit Future Cities signs MoU with national statistics office

Oman's National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Future Cities, a subsidiary of Omantel Group, to support digital transformation projects. Areas of cooperation include cleaning and processing data to ensure high quality, and developing services based on Artificial Intelligence. Khalifa Abdullah Al Barwani, CEO of the NCSI, said the MoU will apply to developing and analysing statistical data, thereby enhancing the centre's ability to provide acc

SAUDI ARABIA 8 JAN

Saudi CST seeks comments on space sector regulations and guidelines by 24 March

Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has invited the public to give feedback on the Space Sector Regulations and Guidelines Document by 24 March. It aims to stimulate activities in the sector and ensure their efficient implementation, promote transparency in procedures for granting licences and permits to conduct them, foster an attractive investment environment in the country, and encourage research and innovation.

JORDAN 8 JAN

Orange and Jordan Payments and Clearing Company provide opportunities for Coding Academy graduates

Orange Jordan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jordan Payments and Clearing Company (JoPACC) aimed at providing graduates of the Coding Academy at the Orange Digital Centre with practical experience and applied opportunities that meet the requirements of the labour market. CEO of Orange Jordan Philippe Mansour said the MoU reinforces its commitment to supporting Coding Academy students, while underscoring JoPACC's support via the Join Fincubator for eligible graduates and BIG by Orang

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 8 JAN

Honor steps up expansion of UAE retail footprint

Honor announced the upcoming opening of its new Honor Experience Store at BurJuman Mall Dubai, UAE further strengthening the brand's retail presence in Dubai. The new store will officially open its doors on 9 January, offering customers an interactive space to explore Honor's latest smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables and IoT devices. 

BAHRAIN 7 JAN

Beyon Money Business added to EazyPay POS network

Beyon Money Business, part of the Beyon Group, and Eazy Financial Services (EazyPay), a Bahraini payment services provider have integrated Beyon Money Business with EazyPay's POS devices across Bahrain.  The new solution enables merchants to accept contactless digital payments through Beyon Money Business. It is supported by real-time sales insights, reconciliation tools, and analytics designed to help businesses of all sizes, especially SMEs, to operate more efficiently.

BAHRAIN 7 JAN

Zain Bahrain launches One CX AI customer service platform

Zain Bahrain announced the launch of One CX, a new AI-powered customer service that enables organisations to design, manage, and enhance customer interactions across digital and assisted channels. One CX brings together omni-channel customer engagement platforms with real-time analytics and performance monitoring. These capabilities enable organizations to manage customer interactions more efficiently, gain deeper insight into customer behavior, and continuously improve service quality across all touchpoint

QATAR 7 JAN

Qatar consults on revised radio spectrum fees

Qatar's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) launched a public consultation on the proposed update of fees for the use of radio spectrum. This review reflects ongoing advancements in wireless services, the release of new bands following recent World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC-19 and WRC-23), and the increasing demand for radio frequencies. The proposed framework maintains CRA's existing formula-based methodology, which ties fees to key parameters such as bandwidth, frequency band, coverage are

JORDAN 7 JAN

Orange Jordan names HR director and chief legal/supply chain officer

Orange Jordan announced the appointment of Fareez Barakat as chief human resources officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in HR across the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Orange Jordan, Barakat held senior leadership positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as at IBM across the Middle East and Africa, where he led regional HR strategies, large-scale transformation programs, and employee experience initiatives. Orange Jordan also announced the appoin

MIDDLE EAST 6 JAN

STC Group plans issue of Islamic bonds

STC Group announced its intention to issue US dollar-denominated Islamic bonds under a USD 5 billion international Trust Certificate (sukuk) issuance programme established on 6 January. The issuance will be through an offshore special purpose vehicle established outside Saudi Arabia for this purpose. The sukuk may be issued in one or more tranches or series by way of an offer to eligible investors in Saudi Arabia and foreign countries.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 6 JAN

E& to connect 42,000 residents at Abu Dhabi camps with managed wireless network

E& UAE has inked an agreement with Al Rayan Investments to deliver high-speed managed Wi-Fi services connecting more than 42,000 residents across the Construction Workers Residential City (CWRC) Labour Camp and the Moon Flower Humanitarian City, both in Abu Dhabi. Under the agreement, E& UAE will design, deploy, and operate a high-speed, fully managed Wi-Fi network that provides high-quality internet, reliable coverage, secure access, and centralised performance management across both communities. The servi

MIDDLE EAST 6 JAN

Lenovo appoints Alangari as president for META region

Lenovo announced the appointment of Tareq Alangari as senior vice president and president of its Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) business. He officially joined Lenovo on 5 January, leading its META business from Lenovo's regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia. Alangari brings 25 years of experience across technology, telecom, cloud and digital industries, and most recently served as CEO of E& enterprise Saudi Arabia, where he launched the business.

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