Thanks to sweeping digital transformation enablement efforts, the Kingdom’s ICT market is now the largest and fastest growing in MENA, with a total market size of SAR154 billion in 2022.
China Telecom Global, a provider of integrated telecommunication services, and telecoms services provider and enabler STC Group of Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their combined IoT business, and, as the partners put it, “explore business opportunities and innovations that will achieve common goals for both parties”.
Data centre expansion continues in the Gulf region – with a strong renewable energy angle. Digital infrastructure company Equinix has announced the launch of its third International Business Exchange data centre in Dubai to support digital opportunities for Dubai and the Middle East.
Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed a collaboration with Red Hat, a major provider of enterprise open source solutions.
STC Group-owned company center3 and Alcatel Submarine Networks are planning to connect Saudi Arabia with Europe by building the EMC West subsea and terrestrial data cables.
Zain has acquired the UAE-based cloud and data analytics firm Adfolks via its enterprise unit ZainTech.
Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has unveiled a number of coverage and service provision targets during a recent meeting discussing telecommunications infrastructure expansion projects for this year.
Bahrain-headquartered technology group Beyon has made a number of significant announcements relating to digital infrastructure that will, it says, support the acceleration of Bahrain’s digital transformation and the growth of the country’s digital economy.
Further evidence of the innovation the Internet of Things (IoT) can enable comes from elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company Otis Worldwide Corporation, which has announced the launch of its new Otis ONE IoT service platform in the Middle East.
iot squared and OQ Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will help expand satellite IoT connectivity in Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian government has sold a 9.5% holding in fixed-line provider Telecom Egypt for EGP3.747 billion (US$121 million).
Kuwait’s Zain Group and Oman’s Omantel have launched a new joint venture.
As seen in other global markets, smartphone shipments in the Middle East and Africa have fallen 11% year-on-year, the lowest Q1 shipment figure since 2016, as macroeconomic factors continue to batter economies.
Mavenir has formed a strategic partnership with BSS provider i2i Systems to drive collaboration for Open RAN in Turkey.
Telecom Egypt announced the landing of the 2Africa subsea cable in Port Said, a move that will enhance connectivity in Egypt and provide capacity for the operator to grow.
The Middle East data centre market has been in the news recently, with plans announced for a massive new data centre in Cairo and the arrival of a new report suggesting impressive growth expected for Oman’s data centre sector.
Bahraini broadband provider BNET signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to identify strategic objectives, outline governance rules, and set the terms for long-term collaboration, reported CommsUpdate.
Carrier-neutral data centre services provider GPX Global Systems, in collaboration with Redcon Group, a major name in construction, has announced a new data centre investment in Egypt.
Orange Jordan has chosen Nokia’s 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment for its nationwide deployment.
Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has ordered mobile operator Korek Telecom to pay US$800 million to resolve an ongoing dispute over outstanding unpaid fees.
Orange Group again credited its revenue growth to its Africa and Middle East segments as units there demonstrated how the operator had responded to increased competitive pressure.
Two more indications of the growing role of renewable energy in network rollout – both to save the environment and to save money – have come from Brazil and Bahrain.
Submarine cable activity seems to be far from slowing down in Africa. In fact plans for two more cables, one connecting France and Tunisia and one involving the ECOWAS region, have recently been announced.
Customers of Icosnet , Algeria’s sole private ISP provider, will now be able to access Liquid Dataport’s digital communication services following a new agreement between the firms.
