The Mobile Economy Middle East and North Africa 2019

5G services have become a reality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As of October 2019, 10 operators had launched commercial 5G services in five GCC Arab States. Mobile operators in these countries are aiming to be global leaders in 5G deployments, while governments view the technology as a potential enabler for their digital transformation ambitions. The 2020s will see 5G activities become more widespread across the region, with trials and commercial launches expected in non-GCC countries.

Mobile continues to contribute to economic growth and help address social challenges across the region. In 2018, mobile technologies and services generated 4.5% of GDP in MENA – a contribution that amounted to $191 billion of economic value added. Meanwhile, mobile operators are leveraging big data solutions to address a number of challenges. Key use cases include monitoring air pollution levels, tracking disease outbreaks, improving urban planning and responding to disasters.