Monetising 5G in MENA: from network leadership to sustainable returns

When the first commercial 5G networks went live in 2019, GCC operators were among the very first in the world to launch. By September 2026, 17 of the region’s 24 markets had launched commercial 5G, including Türkiye in April 2026. GSMA Intelligence forecasts 5G connections in MENA to rise from 67 million in 2025 to almost 350 million by 2030. 

The region has shown it can build world-class 5G networks, yet ARPU has remained broadly flat since the first launches, even as operators prepare to invest a further $53 billion between 2026 and 2030 in 5G standalone (SA), 5G-Advanced and network densification. Returns have yet to become proportionate to the scale of the networks built by the region’s operators. 

Consumers pay for outcomes, not network generations 

The report assesses seven consumer monetisation models ,and with few 5G-exclusive applications the common thread across the assessed models becomes clear: consumers pay for tangible benefits of using 5G, not for 5G as such. Most customers see 5G as a faster mobile broadband, so any premiums charged simply for access or speed tend to be competed away easily. Volume-based pricing remains the foundation of mobile broadband across the region, even with the advent of 5G. GCC users consumed 30 GB of data per connection per month in 2025, more than double the global average of 13.5 GB, but the increased popularity of unlimited plans in such advanced markets and affordability pressures in other  MENA markets limit or “caps” the revenue potential of volume based pricing eventually. Content partnerships mainly build loyalty and lifetime value, while experience tiers that guarantee performance for streaming, gaming or live events hold the strongest long-term potential where 5G SA is deployed. 

Fixed wireless access (FWA) stands out as the clearest path to sustainable consumer 5G revenue. Fixed wireless access (FWA) provides the clearest path to sustainable consumer 5G revenue. It targets the household and SME broadband markets, offers a straightforward proposition and does not depend on widespread 5G SA deployment. Today, 36 of the region’s 56 commercial 5G networks offer FWA, and in Saudi Arabia it already accounts for around a fifth of broadband connections. 

Enterprise value lies beyond connectivity 
GSMA intelligence assessed four enterprise 5G monetization models where the enterprise segment offers the largest long-term opportunity, supported by the region’s large energy sector, expanding industrial base, national transformation programs and growing investment in AI. 

Private 5G is the leading enterprise opportunity, illustrated by landmark deployments such as the 11,000 km² network that ADNOC and e& are building across ADNOC’s oil and gas operations. Operators are also partnering with national AI champions and hyperscalers to capitalize on the AI opportunity . The value operators capture depends on moving beyond connectivity and into managed services, platforms and systems integration. 

The test ahead 

The next phase will be defined by the operators ability to evolve from connectivity providers into digital ecosystem orchestrators, combining portfolios of consumer and enterprise models rather than relying on any single one, and working closely with partners. There are plenty of challenges to overcome to close usage gaps including affordability and the proliferation of Arabic content. Regulators have a part to play as well to allow sustainable investments into 5G networks and ecosystem, through affordable spectrum, flexibility in tariff design, clear rules for private networks and policies to support introduction of more affordable devices. The test the region now faces is whether it can capture the value of 5G before the industry’s attention turns to 6G at the end of the decade knowing that the first specifications for 6G are expected to come out in 2029.