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SAMENA Daily - Industry News Briefing

Industry News Briefing
May 13, 2026

Featured Member News

stc Bahrain partners with MENA Industrial Bank to support its operations in Bahrain

The infrastructure ensures secure, reliable, and scalable operations, allowing the bank to focus on delivering innovative financial services while meeting regulatory and compliance requirements...

Member News

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Cisco and USGA extend partnership with renewed focus on powering the game of golf in the AI Era

Through the renewed partnership, Cisco and the USGA will collaborate to deploy AI-ready infrastructure and advanced solutions that help ensure the USGA’s network can support current and future device loads, as well as...

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Nokia launches agentic AI for home and broadband networks

Nokia announces new agentic AI capabilities for its fixed network product lines to help drive productivity and operational intelligence across home and broadband networks...

Policy and Regulation

•	Recycle Your Device: Over 400K devices collected by 2025 The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) announced the results of the “Recycle Your Device” initiative since its launch until the end of 2025...

•	Qatar’s Environment Ministry launches new digital services platform Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has launched a new package of electronic services aimed at improving public access, streamlining administrative processes, and accelerating digital government...

South Asia

•	Zong enables 5G services on iPhones in Pakistan Pakistani telecom operator Zong has enabled 5G functionality on compatible Apple iPhone devices in Pakistan, marking another step in the country’s gradual transition toward next-generation mobile connectivity...

•	Nepal Telecom reports revenue and profit growth in third quarter of FY 2082/83 The state-backed operator attributed performance improvements to growth in telecom service consumption, expanding data usage, and ongoing network operations across the country...

3G, 4G and 5G Networks

•	V.tal's project will bring 4G and 5G coverage to Line 6-Orange of the São Paulo metro The partnership with Linha Uni foresees the installation of IBS infrastructure in stations and tunnels of the future metro line, with continuous mobile coverage along the 15.3-kilometer route...

•	Telekom Slovenije turns on 5G SA network with gear from Ericsson Ericsson announced that Telekom Slovenije has switched on Slovenia’s first 5G Standalone (5G SA) mobile service after completing an extensive modernization and expansion of its 5G network...

Content & Immersive Technologies

•	Joyn launches subscription tier Joyn+ in Austria Joyn is introducing a paid subscription tier in Austria for the first time, adding premium channels and public broadcasters to its line‑up as the platform marks its third anniversary...

•	Bell Media to launch digital archive on YouTube spanning six decades of content Bell Media is digitizing its vast archive of Canadian news, music, and entertainment to make decades of historical footage accessible to the public on YouTube...

Global Telecom Update

•	Maxis taps LG Uplus AI calling platform in first overseas deal Malaysian operator Maxis has signed a deal to deploy LG Uplus’ AI voice calling assistant ixi-O, marking the Korean operator’s first international agreement for the platform...

•	BT launches enterprise voice control service UC Edge New single voice communication layer reduces complexity and costs for multinational organisations as they evolve their AI-powered workplace collaboration strategies...

•	Palo Alto Networks launches Idira identity security platform for AI-driven enterprises Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, announced Idira™, the next-generation identity security platform to discover, control and govern all identities, eliminating the silos that have left the modern...

Middle East

•	UAE launches cyber factory to strengthen national digital defence and sovereignty The UAE has launched a new Cyber Factory initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s cyber resilience, accelerating local cybersecurity capability development, and reinforcing digital sovereignty as cyber threats...

•	Ooredoo announces launch of strategic digital & AI transformation programme Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading telecommunications provider, announced the launch of its Strategic Digital & AI Transformation Programme, designed to accelerate Ooredoo’s evolution into an AI-powered company, supported...

•	IITC and Microsoft collaborate to advance Oman’s digital transformation agenda Innovation and Information Technology Company (IITC) has partnered with Microsoft to support Oman’s digital transformation initiatives through expanded cloud, AI, and enterprise technology capabilities aimed at...

•	Integrating AI into government work a priority, says Sheikh Mohammed The project will streamline procedures, speed up delivery, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of government decision-making through integrated federal data and advanced digital infrastructure...

North Africa

•	valU partners with Fawry to expand flexible digital payment services in Egypt Egyptian fintech platform valU has partnered with digital payments provider Fawry to expand access to flexible digital payment solutions as demand for consumer fintech services continues growing across Egypt’s digital...

Satellite & Internet

•	Telkom Indonesia launches satellite backbone for Papua Mountains Telkom Indonesia and its satellite services arm Telkomsat revealed that they have inaugurated a new satellite gateway to provide backbone infrastructure in the Papua Mountains region...

•	JCPS launches district-wide fiber-optic network Jefferson County Public Schools is building a US$32 million district-owned fiber-optic network to connect all its schools to high-speed internet and save money long-term...

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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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