Role of wireless backhaul in enabling 5G in MENA

The increasing migration to mobile broadband services in MENA is driving a rapid acceleration of mobile data traffic, with 4G now accounting for a third of total mobile connections in the region. Meanwhile, the transition to 5G is gaining traction in the region, led by the GCC member states. 5G will play a pivotal role in the development of smart cities and will support the digital transformation agenda of governments across the region.

Mobile backhaul infrastructure is crucial to meeting the increasing demand for data connectivity as well as for achieving the capacity, reliability and performance expectations of 5G. As a result, there will be significant interest in mobile backhaul technologies in the 2020s, as operators seek effective and efficient solutions for their transport requirements. Indeed, investment in backhaul networks will be an early driver of 5G capex in MENA, which is set to accelerate over the period 2020–2025 as pioneer markets extend coverage and commercial launches get underway in other markets in the region.

To understand the outlook and expectations for mobile backhaul in MENA, GSMA Intelligence conducted a survey of key stakeholders, including mobile operators from across the region and leading transport vendors, to capture on-the-ground perspectives on key mobile backhaul trends and deployment.