ZainTech and Vortex tie up to advance video compression and AI visual intelligence
MIDDLE EAST 09:14

ZainTech and Vortex tie up to advance video compression and AI visual intelligence

ZainTech has announced a partnership with Vortex Global, a software company specialising in surveillance and visual intelligence products, to apply AI-powered analytics and efficient compression to enterprise video data services. ZainTech will integrate Vortex's 'Z Compress' and 'Twin Vision' products. Z Compress was developed by Secure City Solutions (SCS) and is a high-performance video compression technology that lowers bandwidth and storage needs without sacrificing codecs, frame rates or video quality.

Umniah by Beyon makes two executive appointments
JORDAN 08:27

Umniah by Beyon makes two executive appointments

Jordanian operator Umniah by Beyon has announced the appointments of Yusuf Sater as chief technical officer and Dina Aldaoud as executive director of brand and corporate communications. Aldaoud has experience in brand management and corporate communications with a career of over 20 years in telecommunications, oil and gas, consulting, nonprofit and luxury retail. She has built and protected brands, launched successful products and led communication programmes.

Vodafone Qatar provides telecom services for Tattoo Doha 2025
QATAR 18 DEC

Vodafone Qatar provides telecom services for Tattoo Doha 2025

Vodafone Qatar announced it's a strategic partner for Tattoo Doha 2025, the international military music and marching festival, providing telecom and digital services throughout the festival which runs until 20 December. The telecom company is also providing free public Wi-Fi in the arena. For organisers, performers and key stakeholders, Vodafone Qatar will provide dedicated connectivity solutions, push-to-talk services, and devices to support smooth operations across the venue. Event organisers will also r

E& Egypt agrees digital transformation contract for Carry On outlets
EGYPT 18 DEC

E& Egypt agrees digital transformation contract for Carry On outlets

Egypt's state-owned Holding Company for Food Industries (HCFI) signed a cooperation protocol with E& Egypt to roll out integrated digital solutions across HCFI's modernized consumer cooperatives, including the Carry On outlets. E& Egypt will provide a package of telecommunications and internet services, digital transformation and cloud computing solutions, e-payment systems, as well as tracking services and surveillance cameras.

STC Group's Center3 and Humain form joint venture to develop AI data centres
SAUDI ARABIA 18 DEC

STC Group's Center3 and Humain form joint venture to develop AI data centres

STC Group's digital infrastructure subsidiary Center3 and Humain have announced a joint venture to build artificial intelligence data centres in Saudi Arabia capable of hosting up to 1 GW of AI workloads. The venture supports high-performance hosting of critical digital assets, fosters the AI ecosystem, and creates a platform to deploy large language models (LLMs) and mission-critical AI applications. Olayan Alwetaid, CEO of STC Group, said that by combining Humain's AI experience with Center3's data centre

E& launches Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold exclusively in UAE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 18 DEC

E& launches Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold exclusively in UAE

E& UAE has announced the exclusive launch of Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone. It becomes available only at e& UAE and Samsung stores across the country starting 19 December at the price of AED 3,670.

Fitch upgrades Omantel rating to 'BBB-' with stable outlook
OMAN 18 DEC

Fitch upgrades Omantel rating to 'BBB-' with stable outlook

Omantel has announced that Fitch Ratings has upgraded its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'BBB-' with a stable outlook. The upgrade follows Fitch's decision to raise Oman's Long-Term Foreign-Currency IDR to 'BBB-' with a stable outlook on 08 December. It reflects Omantel's strong financial fundamentals, strategic importance to the national economy, and its expanding role as a regional technology enabler. Fitch referred to the company's resilience, operational excellence and disciplined execution of

Vodafone Egypt renews partnership with football star Salah as 5G ambassador
EGYPT 18 DEC

Vodafone Egypt renews partnership with football star Salah as 5G ambassador

Vodafone Egypt has announced the renewal of its partnership with Egyptian and international football star Mohamed Salah, who will continue his role as the company's ambassador for 5G technology. The renewal coincides with the operator's achievement of the widest 5G coverage in Egypt, now spanning more than 3,000 urban areas nationwide, up from around 2,000 since June.

Du deploys Huawei 25 Gbps E-band microwave technology for 5G-A over 3 years
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 18 DEC

Du deploys Huawei 25 Gbps E-band microwave technology for 5G-A over 3 years

UAE operator Du has signed a three-year agreement with Huawei following the successful deployment of what is described as the world's first 25 Gbps E-band microwave link in a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) site roll-out. Du legacy links lack the necessary bandwidth to support the increased capacity requirement of 5G-A, particularly in fibre-scarce regions. With the newly deployed 25 Gbps link, Du can address the higher demands of 5G-A, Huawei said.

Vodafone Oman introduces Wafi rewards without collecting loyalty points
OMAN 18 DEC

Vodafone Oman introduces Wafi rewards without collecting loyalty points

Vodafone Oman has introduced the Wafi scheme, offering instant rewards without the need to collect loyalty points. Wafi rewards are part of the same digital service that customers already use to manage their plans, payments, and services on the My Vodafone App. Users receive offers from partner brands in the dining, fashion and entertainment sectors.

Space42 and Cobham Satcom expand range of Thuraya-4 terminals
MIDDLE EAST 18 DEC

Space42 and Cobham Satcom expand range of Thuraya-4 terminals

Space42 and Cobham Satcom said they have extended the range of advanced terminals for the Thuraya-4 Next Generation Satellite (T4-NGS), providing broadband-grade L-band service to users in the government, national security, maritime and commercial sectors. The comprehensive Cobham Satcom terminal portfolio supplies connectivity exceeding 1 Mbps even in contested or remote environments. This follows the start of commercial service on Space42's next-generation mobile communications satellite, Thuraya-4, in No

Oman's mobile phone subscriptions rise 11% in year to October
OMAN 17 DEC

Oman's mobile phone subscriptions rise 11% in year to October

Mobile service subscriptions in Oman reached 8.04 million in October, marking an 11.3 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Active postpaid mobile subscriptions rose by 1.9 percent to 1.26 million while prepaid subscriptions grew 3.0 percent to 5.20 million.

OMAN 17 DEC

TechBridge opens new office in Oman

TechBridge MEA, a channel value-added distributor (CVAD) specializing in mobility, cybersecurity, and networking products, announced the opening of its newest office in Oman, under the company's regional growth strategy to strengthen its presence across the GCC. The Muscat office responds to growing regional demand, with more than 40 partners requesting localized support. Since its establishment in November 2023, TechBridge MEA has onboarded over 20 vendors and many more channel partners, with 50 percent qu

ISRAEL 17 DEC

Synamedia extends contract with Yes to support Partner's new streaming service

Synamedia announced that it is extending its contract with Yes, the pay-TV subsidiary of the Israeli operator Bezeq, and also supporting Yes's collaboration agreement with Partner Communications to launch its new TV service. Yes will deliver a version of its Sting+ app, based on Synamedia OTT, cloud and SaaS products, and will purchase content for Partner. Partner Communications TV subscribers will be upgraded to the Partner+ app with fresh Partner branding and new viewer experiences. The Yes Sting+ app is

OMAN 17 DEC

Archangel Lightworks and Omantel partner to bring laser-optic satellite communications to Oman

Omantel and Archangel Lightworks, a UK-based specialist in optical and laser communications, announced the signing of an agreement to work on satellite and optical communication services. The agreement creates a collaborative framework for the parties to introduce Archangel Lightworks' laser-optic satellite ground station communication technologies within Omantel's network. Together, they aim to position Oman as a regional hub for advanced satellite connectivity and high-capacity digital networks.

QATAR 17 DEC

Vodafone Qatar signs up Meeza to migrate core ops to Google Cloud

Vodafone Qatar and Meeza have signed an agreement to accelerate Vodafone's digital modernisation using Google Cloud technology. They said Meeza's local expertise and integrated services will enable a smooth transition to cloud technologies. This reduces reliance on traditional hardware and on-premises servers in favour of more agile and cloud-driven operations.

JORDAN 16 DEC

Jordan's Zain Cash launches 2026 Campaign

Jordan's Zain Cash started a promotional campaign, offering Zain Cash Mastercard users the chance to enter a draw to win a prize of JOD 2,026, with three winners to be selected. Zain Cash Customers can participate in the campaign, which runs until mid of January 2026, by using their Zain Cash Mastercard, linked to their mobile money wallets, to make local or international purchases, or online transactions, with a minimum total of JOD 750 during the campaign period. Three winners will be selected through a d

QATAR 16 DEC

Ooredoo Qatar teams up with Rafay Systems to ease access to AI tools

Ooredoo Qatar announced a partnership with Rafay Systems to deliver an enterprise-grade, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) powered by Nvidia accelerated computing to organisations across the country, building on its recent deployment of Nvidia AI infrastructure in Qatar. The collaboration enables enterprises to build, train and deploy AI and GenAI applications faster and more securely, within Qatar's sovereign AI cloud.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 16 DEC

Flydubai partners with AWS to strengthen digital capabilities

Flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a new collaboration to advance the airline's digital capabilities and enhance its customer journey through AWS's cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) services. AWS will support flydubai through structured innovation engagements, focusing on key areas including generative AI for airline operations, data analytics, machine learning, and customer experience enhancement. By leveraging AWS's advanced cloud, AI and data analytics capabil

MIDDLE EAST 16 DEC

Westcon-Comstor names Renton D'Souza as new Gulf MD

Westcon-Comstor announced the appointment of Renton D'Souza as managing director for the Gulf as it gears up for accelerated growth in the region. D'Souza has held several strategic roles at Westcon-Comstor over the past eighteen years, driving expansion into new markets and leading alliances with channel partners and vendors across the wider Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Most recently he served as vice president MEA for the distributor's Cisco-focused Comstor arm.

EGYPT 16 DEC

TPay secures licence to offer carrier building for public services in Egypt

TPay secured Egypt's first Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) licence from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to allow people to pay for government services directly via their mobile balance/bill. The agreement enables mobile-based payments for essential services, such as electricity and utility bills, traffic fines, and civil registry services, directly through the mobile balance or added to a monthly mobile bill. The initiative expands access to people who own mobile phones but do not hold bank ac

SAUDI ARABIA 16 DEC

STC Group signs 5-year master frame agreement with Ericsson

STC Group signed a new five-year Master Frame Agreement (MFA) with Ericsson for developing its digital infrastructure across Saudi Arabia. Through the agreement STC Group will tap Ericsson's latest portfolio offerings including 5G hardware and software, cloud-native solutions, advanced managed services, and infrastructure and network support (including third-party product components).

SAUDI ARABIA 15 DEC

Movandi to launch Saudi operations hub as part of national tech programme

Satellite and mmWave RF chipset developer Movandi has been selected to launch operations in Saudi Arabia under a government programme aimed at incentivising foreign investment by tech firms. Following this announcement, Movandi will be handed certain incentives to deliver a strategic hub in Riyadh, supporting the roll out of high-performance wireless RF technology across the Middle East and North Africa region. The project forms part of Saudi Arabia's Relocate initiative, overseen by the National Technology

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 15 DEC

E& Money ties up with Crypto.com

Crypto.com and E& money, the fintech arm of E& Group, have announced a partnership to advance the UAE crypto ecosystem through integrations of both platforms. E& money will explore partnership opportunities with Crypto.com's crypto-as-a-service product, which aims to enable partners to incorporate digital assets into Crypto.com's treasury and product suites. They will start by looking into trade execution, whereby Crypto.com provides single-point access to deep global liquidity, including Crypto.com Exchang

Just In

13:20

Telegram, Twitch, Pinterest, TikTok find in Russia for violating social media content rules

13:17

Italy business and consumer morale rise again in December

13:15

Digita deploys 5G private network at Outokumpu's Kemi mine

13:05

Traficom announces new sender ID rules from May 2026 to curb scam SMS

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins