Bahrain
Batelco and Nokia join forces to operate Alba’s 5G network
Batelco by Beyon and Nokia have partnered to deploy Bahrain’s first private 5G network dedicated to industrial applications at Alba, the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter. This advanced network will support Alba’s ongoing digital transformation, enabling greater operational efficiency and fostering digital innovation. The cutting-edge infrastructure will allow for the deployment of AI-powered predictive maintenance, autonomous systems, and comprehensive real-time monitoring…Read more
UAE
Microsoft and Du to develop $544Mn data centre
Dubai-based telco Du has signed a $544Mn deal with Microsoft to build and operate a hyperscale data centre in the UAE. Microsoft will serve as the primary tenant, with capacity to be delivered in ‘tranches’. The UAE is experiencing rapid growth in its data centre market, drawing major global cloud providers such as Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, and Alibaba, all of which have been expanding their regional presence in recent years. Local players like Khazna, GDH, Moro Hub, and Du are also scaling up operations. Earlier this year, Du signed a separate agreement to extend the Peace subsea cable to the UAE, further strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure…Read more
Middle East
Amazon partners with MENA startup to train Gulf cloud engineers
Amazon has partnered with MENA-based social impact startup Manara to train thousands in cloud software skills across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. AWS, the largest of the global economy’s three main cloud service providers, will invest $3.6Mn in the initiative over the next two years. The programme will train 2,500 software engineers in collaboration with Manara, a startup focused on developing tech talent in the MENA region. Although cloud adoption in the Middle East has lagged behind other regions, it’s estimated that cloud services could generate up to $132Bn in value for MENA’s top 600 companies by 2030. Globally, the cloud computing market was valued at over $500Bn in 2023 and is projected to exceed $1Tn by 2028, reaching $1.6Tn by 2030…Read more