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SAMENA Daily - Industry News Briefing

Industry News Briefing
June 19, 2026

Featured Member News

e& launches CTRL + BLOCK movement to help youth take a stand against cyberbullying

To help make positive digital behaviour more visible and culturally relevant, global technology group e&, in collaboration with Dubai-born fashion label Mrs Keepa, has launched CTRL + BLOCK, a youth-focused movement that encourages young people to block online bullying, set boundaries and take control of their online spaces...

Qatar accelerates public sector digital transformation to advance national digital economy goals

Qatar is intensifying digital transformation efforts across government institutions as part of a broader strategy to modernize public services, improve operational efficiency and accelerate the implementation of its Digital Agenda 2030...

Member News

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Eutelsat and French Armed Forces Ministry announce call-off capacity contract in the context of the NEXUS framework agreement

Call-off contract under the NEXUS framework agreement for the immediate deployment of sovereign Low Earth Orbit capabilities...

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Nokia, t3 Broadband and Aureon partner to deploy hyperscale-class AI connectivity with ultra-high-capacity optical network

Nokia and t3 Broadband announced the deployment of a new ultra-high-capacity optical transport network for the broadband network operator, Aureon...

Recent Developments

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Eutelsat and Mercury sign new multi-year agreement for LEO connectivity in Angola

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stc Group launches advanced O&M solution to enhance network automation and operational efficiency

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Zain Esports powers one of MENA’s biggest PUBG MOBILE championship platforms across 7 countries

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The High-Frequency Content Trap: Vodafone vs. Ooredoo Qatar Facebook Campaigns

Policy and Regulation

•	Governments tighten social media rules for minors as platforms expand age verification measures Countries around the world are introducing stricter regulations aimed at limiting social media access for children under 16, increasing pressure on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to strengthen age...

•	Egypt launches nationwide SMS campaign to strengthen digital safety and cyber awareness As digital transformation continues to expand, governments are recognizing that cyber resilience depends not only on infrastructure and technology but also on informed and security-conscious users...

Middle East

•	Mideast boards lead globally in AI governance, skills gaps remain, says expert Boards across the Middle East are emerging as the most forward-looking and technology-focused globally, according to new research from Board Intelligence, EMEA’s largest board technology and advisory firm...

•	Jordan completes 13 digital economy, telecom and cybersecurity projects in May Jordan completed 13 projects across the digital economy, telecommunications and cybersecurity sectors during May, highlighting the Kingdom’s continued efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure, expand technology...

•	Qatar accelerates public sector digital transformation to advance national digital economy goals Qatar is intensifying digital transformation efforts across government institutions as part of a broader strategy to modernize public services, improve operational efficiency and accelerate the implementation of its Digital...

South Asia

•	Nepal’s 4G user base surpasses 26 million The growth of Nepal’s 4G subscriber base demonstrates the central role mobile broadband continues to play in driving digital inclusion and economic development...

North Africa

•	Algeria seeks national expert to support digital transformation strategy implementation Algeria is seeking a national expert to support the implementation of its digital transformation strategy, underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening institutional capacity and accelerating the execution of...

3G, 4G, 5G/5G-A, Cloud, AI, Energy

•	4G persists as 5G availability and usage gap widens across Europe Research reveals that the vast majority of Europe’s connectivity is still over 4G, and while the performance uplift of 5G Standalone is real, deployment in the region is localised to just 11 networks...

•	Nextivity upgrades 5G enterprise DAS systems for IoT applications Nextivity, the industry leader in intelligent cellular coverage solutions, announced enhancements to its 5G portfolio with the upgraded CEL-FI QUATRA 100M DAS solution and the introduction of the CEL-FI GO G51 cellular...

Global Telecom Update

•	True Corp kicks off project to turn Thailand into SEA’s quantum computing hub True Corp said it's joining forces with local and overseas organisations to launch a project that aims to advance development of quantum computing technology in Thailand and transform the country into a quantum hub for...

•	Bell, Cohere, Hypertec and BUZZ HPC build Canada’s sovereign AI infrastructure platform Bell Canada, Cohere, Hypertec and BUZZ High Performance Computing (HPC), a subsidiary of Hive Digital Technologies, announced a major AI infrastructure deal, marking a significant step forward in the development and...

Satellite & Hybrid Networks

•	Virgin Media O2 extends satellite connectivity support to Google Pixel smartphones Virgin Media O2 has expanded O2 Satellite to compatible Google Pixel devices, marking another milestone for the UK’s first and only direct-to-device satellite service...

•	Seacom launches new terrestrial route in East Africa ICT provider Seacom says it has launched a new high-capacity terrestrial network route between Nairobi and Kampala, reinforcing one of East Africa’s most critical digital corridors...

Content & Immersive Technologies

•	TikTok removed nearly 11.8 million videos across key MENA markets in Q4 2025 TikTok removed more than 11.7 million videos across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon during the fourth quarter of 2025, highlighting the growing scale of content moderation and online safety enforcement as...

•	Netflix and TF1 launch landmark integration in France Netflix and TF1 Group have officially launched their distribution partnership in France, bringing TF1’s live channels and streaming service directly into the Netflix user experience...

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Disclaimer: Information contained herein has been obtained from sources, which we deem reliable. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is not liable for any misinformed decisions that the reader may reach by being solely reliant on information contained herein. Expert advice should be sought.

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