GITEX 2019: bridging the gap between showcase and use case in MENA
This report is available to those subscribed to the Mobile Operators and Networks module.
Featuring 4,500 exhibitors from over 140 countries, the size of the recent GITEX conference in Dubai provided a clear indication of the growing interest in the Middle East among global companies. The event, which represents the Middle East’s biggest tech expo, comes at a momentous time for the region because of its advanced position in 5G deployments. This is supported by commitments from Gulf state governments that are aiming to be global leaders on the digital front by transforming their otherwise oil-rich economies. Although societal digitisation was an overarching theme of the event, a conspicuous gap remains between the hype around technology and the business models in place to realise new use cases.
Related research
Industry Checkpoint: digital industries, Q4 2025
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on digital industries, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: operators expanding their sovereign infrastructure and AI-driven offerings; the increasing use of 5G-Advanced to support applications in robotics; drones gaining prominence for public safety and emergency response in Europe; and the emergence of early forms of quantum-safe networking services.
The telco culture pivot: adapting sales strategies to win in the enterprise
Business challenges, technology priorities and buying behaviour vary significantly by industry, customer size, technology maturity and geography. Operators should more finely segment and prioritise specific customer segments and tailor go-to-market strategies and value propositions accordingly.
The rise of digital industries in ASEAN: accelerating enterprise transformation through AI and mobile
The digital transformation of vertical sectors is accelerating across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). GSMA Intelligence surveyed more than 580 enterprises across 10 sectors in five ASEAN countries to gain insight into their digital transformation.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Industry Checkpoint: digital industries, Q4 2025
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on digital industries, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: operators expanding their sovereign infrastructure and AI-driven offerings; the increasing use of 5G-Advanced to support applications in robotics; drones gaining prominence for public safety and emergency response in Europe; and the emergence of early forms of quantum-safe networking services.
The telco culture pivot: adapting sales strategies to win in the enterprise
Business challenges, technology priorities and buying behaviour vary significantly by industry, customer size, technology maturity and geography. Operators should more finely segment and prioritise specific customer segments and tailor go-to-market strategies and value propositions accordingly.
The rise of digital industries in ASEAN: accelerating enterprise transformation through AI and mobile
The digital transformation of vertical sectors is accelerating across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). GSMA Intelligence surveyed more than 580 enterprises across 10 sectors in five ASEAN countries to gain insight into their digital transformation.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics