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SAMENA Daily - Industry News Briefing

Industry News Briefing
July 14, 2026

Featured Member News

AT&T to offer free calls to countries playing in Soccer’s Biggest Matches

AT&T is helping customers stay connected during some of the summer's biggest soccer moments. AT&T is offering complimentary international long-distance calling from the United States to the countries playing in the semi-final, third-place, and final matches on their eligible match days...

FTTH pricing across MENA: Most markets fairly priced, with two high-cost and four low-cost outliers

Arab Advisors Group has released its latest telecom research report examining how major Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) across 19 Arab countries are pricing and structuring their residential FTTH offerings...

Member News

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Nokia and Taiwan Mobile extend 5G partnership to advance AI-powered networks

Nokia announced it has signed a 5G expansion agreement with Taiwan Mobile to accelerate the evolution toward AI-native mobile networks across Taiwan...

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MENA countries deciding on change of use for the 6 GHz band

All of 13 researched countries in the MENA region, except Algeria and Lebanon, have identified the lower 6 GHz band for RLAN/Wi-Fi use...

Recent Developments

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Opensignal joins the SAMENA Telecommunications Council to advance real-world network experience measurement across SA-ME-NA markets

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SAMENA Council’s CEO Bocar BA Calls for “Trusted Interdependence That Strengthens Sovereignty” at WSIS 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland

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The R&A partners with Cisco to deliver critical networking infrastructure to major championships and new global headquarters

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stc Group wins Sukuk & Bond Deal of the Year 2025 at Saudi Capital Market Awards

Policy and Regulation

•	International Advisory Body approves landmark report to strengthen submarine cable resilience The International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience today approved its final report, including explanations of recommendations to strengthen the resilience of submarine telecommunication cables — the critical...

•	CST launches “Spectrum Surrounds Us” to raise awareness of spectrum The campaign showcases the concept of the radio spectrum and its key uses in our daily life, such as mobile communications, the internet, broadcasting, and wireless technologies...

Middle East

•	Zain KSA partners with Red Hat to accelerate AI-ready network and cloud infrastructure Zain KSA has partnered with Red Hat to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) service readiness by modernizing its cloud-native infrastructure, reinforcing the Saudi operator's strategy to deliver scalable...

•	Lebanon to deploy fiber-optic internet network in Saida to expand high-speed connectivity The Saida project reflects Lebanon's ongoing efforts to strengthen national telecommunications infrastructure despite broader economic challenges...

•	AmiViz and Cyberhaven announce strategic partnership AmiViz, the Middle East’s leading cybersecurity and AI-focused value-added distributor, today announced a strategic partnership with Cyberhaven to bring the company’s industry-leading Unified AI & Data Security...

•	FTTH pricing across MENA: Most markets fairly priced, with two high-cost and four low-cost outliers Arab Advisors Group has released its latest telecom research report examining how major Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) across 19 Arab countries are pricing and structuring their residential FTTH offerings...

North Africa

•	Egypt expands telemedicine services through digital healthcare modernization Egypt is expanding its telemedicine capabilities through a nationwide digital healthcare modernization programme, reinforcing its strategy to improve healthcare accessibility, strengthen digital public services and...

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

•	Myanmar expands mobile network with 27 new base stations and 4G upgrades in eight regions and states Myanmar has completed the construction of 27 new mobile base stations across eight regions and states, while upgrading nine existing stations to the 4G LTE network...

•	Costa Rica’s ICE greenlit for 5G rollout The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) has officially confirmed that it will move forward full-steam with its nationwide fifth-generation (5G) network deployment...

•	SKT expands alliance for proprietary AI foundation models to lead industrial AI shift SK Telecom has expanded its proprietary AI foundation model project consortium by welcoming SK AX and TechnoMatrix as new partner companies...

Content & Immersive Technologies

•	EE launches EE TV Ultimate Flex campaign with Netflix entertainment options Built around the summer holiday juggle, the campaign shows how families can flex their EE TV package to include Netflix and catch the latest comedies, gripping crime dramas and sport documentaries, with something for...

•	Rakuten TV expands European FAST offering with 20 Sony channels Rakuten TV has expanded its European FAST portfolio through a new agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment, launching 20 free ad-supported streaming channels across eight markets...

Satellite & Hybrid Networks

•	Sonatel deploys 16 Eutelsat OneWeb antennas at Gandoul teleport Senegalese telco Sonatel says it has boosted its teleport in Gandoul with the deployment of Eutelsat OneWeb's Satellite Portal Network (SNP), which includes 16 LEO satellite antennas and a Tier III technical room...

•	ALLO Fiber enhances enterprise connectivity visibility through connectbase partnership Connectbase, the global platform for buying and selling connectivity, announced that ALLO Fiber has expanded its participation in The Connected World ecosystem, enhancing visibility into one of the Midwest's...

South Asia

•	VEON and JazzCash acquire TPL insurance to expand digital insurance access in Pakistan VEON and its digital financial services platform JazzCash have agreed to acquire TPL Insurance, marking a significant step in expanding embedded digital insurance services and strengthening Pakistan's rapidly evolving...

•	Nepal’s Mercantile Space partners with Rivada Space Networks to expand secure satellite connectivity Nepal-based Mercantile Space has partnered with Rivada Space Networks to deliver next-generation satellite connectivity services, expanding access to secure, low-latency communications for enterprises, governments and...

Global Telecom Update

•	Vodafone expands EASY digital mobile service with partner benefits Vodafone Romania has expanded the partnership ecosystem integrated into EASY, its fully digital mobile service...

•	Partnership claims eSIM IoT breakthrough in Asia-Pacific Advanced technologies company Thales and operators Singtel (Singapore), Optus (Australia), AIS (Thailand) and Globe Telecom (Philippines) have announced the successful deployment of the world’s first multi-operator...

•	Rakuten Symphony deploys maritime cybersecurity solution with Hanwha Ocean Rakuten Symphony announced the official commercial deployment of its Rakuten Maritime vessel cybersecurity solution, securing a full-scale implementation agreement with South Korean shipbuilding giant Hanwha Ocean to...

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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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