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SAMENA Daily - Industry News Briefing

Industry News Briefing
December 12, 2025

Featured Member News

e& launches a smart keyboard designed to reconnect people with the Arabic language

Global technology group, e& announced the launch of a new free keyboard designed to bring the Arabic language back to everyday digital communication. Instead of asking users to change the way they type, the keyboard mirrors the layout “Arabizi” users already know, placing Arabic letters in the same familiar positions as their English counterparts...

Member News

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AT&T launches Connected Life: Smart, simple, and secure with Google Home

AT&T launches AT&T Connected Life, the only solution to deliver smart home capabilities from Google Home featuring Google Nest devices with professional monitoring from Abode, all backed by AT&T’s super-fast and...

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ZTE wins "Catalyst Innovator: Voyager" award at Innovate Asia 2025

ZTE was awarded the "Catalyst Innovator: Voyager" award at TM Forum's Innovate Asia 2025 for its pioneering contributions to autonomous networks and AI-driven digital transformation...

Recent Developments

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Mobily marks 20 years with strategy pledging to be 'Ever Closer'

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e& UAE to consider enabling Stablecoin Payments Through AE Coin

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Omantel and be’ah partner to advance electronic waste management in Oman

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Zain launches its fully digital motor insurance app in Kuwait

Policy and Regulation

•	Tarifica highlights TRA Bahrain’s Qaren platform, Ppowered by PlanScout, as a model for consumer protection and transparency Tarifica announced the continued success and market impact of Qaren, the telecommunications plan comparison platform deployed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain...

•	Radio spectrum coordination: A critical component for safe aviation Modern aviation depends on reliable radiocommunication systems for navigation, air traffic management, surveillance and safety services...

North Africa

•	TOD by beIN Media Group launches in Morocco ahead of AFCON 2025 TOD, the all-in-one sports and entertainment streaming platform from Qatar’s beIN Media Group, has officially launched in Morocco as the country prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025...

3G, 4G and 5G Networks

•	2degrees 3G shutdown starts this weekend 100 3G Rural Connectivity Group network sites to be decommissioned this month but little user disruption expected...

•	Telia launches 5G standalone for consumers in Lithuania Telia is already the first operator in Lithuania to deploy 5G standalone (SA), and is now making the technology’s cutting-edge capabilities available to individual customers...

Content & Immersive Technologies

•	Disney is making a major move into artificial intelligence with a billion-dollar investment in OpenAI Under the deal, fans will be able to create their own short videos featuring some 200 Disney characters – from Marvel superheroes to Pixar favorites and Star Wars icons...

•	Warner Bros. Discovery launches HbbTV-based addressable ads on free-to-air channels Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has introduced a new HbbTV-based system for personalised advertising on its free-to-air (FTA) channels, developed with Amazon Web Services (AWS)...

Global Telecom Update

•	Cybersecurity threats and AI disruptions top concerns for IT leaders in 2026 Organizational data remains a critical concern: nearly 60% of respondents report reduced visibility of where their data resides due to the growth of multi-cloud and SaaS environments...

•	Microsoft announces vast AI investment in India This investment, the tech giant says, builds on a US$3 billion investment announced earlier this year, which the company is on track to spend by the end of 2026...

•	IBM and Pearson partner to reskill workforce and educators globally IBM and Pearson announced a global partnership to build new personalized learning products powered by AI for businesses, public organizations, and educational institutions...

Middle East

•	Vodafone Qatar launches fully remote onboarding with instant SIM and mobile wallet activation Designed to keep pace with the scale and speed of Vodafone Qatar’s expanding network, the fully remote process offers a seamless, secure, and frictionless customer journey for millions of users...

•	SpaceX discusses introducing satellite internet to Iraq Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to digital transformation as the government advances licensing talks with SpaceX’s Starlink to launch satellite internet services in the...

•	SentinelOne and Rilian Technologies partner to boost AI-Driven cyber defense across the Middle East This collaboration combines SentinelOne’s industry-leading autonomous cybersecurity platform with Rilian’s mission to accelerate secure technology adoption, enabling governments, enterprises, and critical...

•	Cyberani by Aramco Digital and KPMG partner to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s cybersecure future at Black Hat 2025 The Cyberani–KPMG alliance reflects Saudi Arabia’s determination to lead globally in digital and industrial resilience...

South Asia

•	Pakistan opens 10 million BISP mobile wallet accounts for women The newly launched mobile wallets—linked to women’s national identity cards and operated via mobile phones—provide a fast, convenient way to manage money...

•	Dialog completes rapid network restoration and commits to expanding national connectivity Sri Lanka recently faced one of its most challenging periods in recent years, as floods and landslides disrupted families, communities, and essential infrastructure across the country...

Satellite & Internet

•	Senegal to connect one million citizens via satellite rollout by 2026 Senegal is set to provide free internet connectivity to one million citizens through the deployment of satellite antennas, as part of an ambitious government programme to achieve national coverage across remote regions by...

•	OQ Technology achieves Europe’s first direct-to-mobile emergency broadcast message from space A Landmark in Secure Public Safety Communications and European Spectrum Leadership

•	Ripple Fiber will expand Massachusetts footprint to Merrimac Ripple Fiber has announced plans to bring their fiber internet network to the community of Merrimac, Massachusetts...

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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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