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SAMENA Telecommunications Council - Logo Industry News Briefing
August 14, 2026
 
 
 
 
 
 
Featured Member News
 
AT&T expands video intelligence portfolio with EdgeVis Cloud
 
 
AT&T Video Intelligence with EdgeVis Cloud empowers organizations to modernize operations by delivering live video to virtually any location, including remote and hard-to-reach sites where wired or Wi-Fi connectivity may not be available...
 
 
 
Member News
 
•  Eutelsat to play central role in delivering the next phase of Europe’s sovereign IRIS² connectivity infrastructure
Member Logo Programme will provide Eutelsat with enhanced network capacity and next-generation technological capabilities, driving future service expansion and long-term revenue generation throughout the IRIS² concession and...
 
 
Recent Developments
 
•  MTN launches AI-powered job board to connect Africa’s youth to the opportunities of the digital economy
 
•  MTN and IMF leaders in talks on the potential of Africa’s digital economy
 
•  Zain Group H1 2026 Net Profit soars 73% YoY to reach KD 220 m (USD 717m); Revenue grows 5% YoY to reach KD 1.14 bn (USD 3.71bn)
 
•  ARABSAT and Libya Telecom and Technology (LTT) Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement to Advance Satellite Connectivity in Libya
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policy and Regulation
 
Public consultation on updated retail telecom tariff regulations
The Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) invites the public to submit their input on the update of Retail Telecom Services Tariff Regulations, which aims to promote access to advanced telecom services,...
 
Algeria wants Meta to ban WhatsApp accounts that aren’t linked to local numbers
The Algerian government has reportedly warned Meta that all WhatsApp accounts in the country must be linked to a valid mobile phone number registered with an Algerian telco, and instructed it to ban all WhatsApp accounts...
 
Middle East
 
Saudi Arabia’s digital experience maturity rises to 87%, Absher tops platform rankings
Saudi Arabia’s 2026 Digital Experience Maturity Index scored 87.06 percent, achieving an “Advanced” maturity level following a comprehensive assessment of 59 digital platforms, the Digital Government...
 
e& UAE leads industry transition to 5G-native IoT with successful testing of educed capability readiness on a live network
This achievement demonstrates a practical pathway for enterprises and public-sector organisations to move widely deployed IoT applications from legacy LTE technologies onto a simpler, more energy-efficient 5G-native IoT...
 
South Asia
 
Meta explores local CDN and office in Bangladesh after data law changes
Meta is considering establishing local digital infrastructure in Bangladesh, including a Content Delivery Network or Edge Node, after changes under the country’s new Personal Data Protection Act, 2026 removed legal and...
 
North Africa
 
Egypt set to begin trial operation of digital twin for Ismailia Canal
The digital transformation is a key pillar of efforts to modernise water management by expanding the use of technology to monitor, manage and distribute water...
 
3G, 4G, 5G/5G-A, Cloud, AI, Energy
 
UK activates more than 150 rural 4G mast upgrades under Shared Rural Network
More than 150 4G mast upgrades have gone live across rural parts of the UK under the government-backed Shared Rural Network programme, extending mobile coverage across more than 5,684 square kilometres and improving...
 
OpenAI agrees to transform U Mobile into an AI-powered telco
Malaysian 5G operator U Mobile announced that OpenAI will help it transform into an AI-enabled telco under a strategic collaboration agreement signed on Wednesday, with added support from Amazon Web Services (AWS)...
 
Hanwha Systems, TTA to develop AI-based 5G tactical communications system
Hanwha Systems is developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based 5G tactical communications system with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA)...
 
Content & Immersive Technologies
 
Crunchyroll expands into connected cars
Crunchyroll is extending its anime streaming service to connected vehicles through a distribution agreement with Appning by Forvia...
 
UNESCO releases new report on the context and challenges of digital content creation in Kenya
New research reveals that while digital creators drive public discourse and are increasingly becoming Kenya’s influential media voices, they operate without formal training and limited Media and Information Literacy...
 
 
SAMENA Trends
 
MSS Whitepaper
 
Satellite & Hybrid Networks
 
Starlink launches commercial satellite internet services in Vietnam
Starlink has officially launched commercial satellite internet services in Vietnam, opening orders for residential and business customers following regulatory approval to operate under a controlled pilot programme...
 
Warren County connects first customer to new fiber broadband network
Warren County has connected the first customer to a new high-speed fiber-optic broadband network being expanded into underserved areas through a public-private infrastructure programme...
 
Global Telecom Update
 
Snom, Telinta streamline IP phone provisioning for ITSP customers
Telinta has announced a solution for automated provisioning of Snom M500 phones using Telinta’s softswitch platform...
 
STT GDC secures green financing facility for Johor campus
Data centre provider ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), has announced that it has secured a green financing facility of up to US$1.37 billion to support the development of STT Johor, its flagship Malaysia data...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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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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