By: Muhammad Abdul-Wakeel
Mubasher: With the significant advancements in the quality of the internet and ways of communication worldwide, especially in recent years, economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region find growth opportunities in Mobile technologies.
According to two reports conducted by GSMA Intelligence, mobile technologies and services added $191 billion to MENA’s economies in 2018, accounting for 4.5% of regional GDP.
Mobile’s contribution to the region’s economies is expected to exceed $220 billion in 2023 due to the increasing adoption of 5G and IoT networks which are boosting productivity and efficiency of these economies, reports revealed.
GCC economies lead the region
The increasing need for diversification of GCC economies pushed companies there to pick up the pace and integrate up-to-date technologies in these societies, as 12 operators have launched commercial 5G services in five countries in the region.
Mobile operators in GCC aim to compete globally in 5G services, realising digital transformation goals set by leaders in the regions, including UAE Vision 2021 and Saudi Vision 2030.
“Backed by proactive government support, mobile operators, particularly in the GCC Arab States, have speedily deployed 5G technology,” GSMA’s director general Mats Granryd said.
MENA’s progress in IoT
The growth rate of Internet of things (IoT) connections in the MENA region comes second globally after the Asia-Pacific region. IoT connections in MENA are expected to reach 470 million by the end of the year, to record 1.1 billion in 2025. The deployment of IoT across MENA is expected to add $18 billion to the region’s GDP by 2025.
“Beyond the GCC, the wider MENA region has an opportunity to benefit from the technological developments delivered by 5G and IoT. To fully embrace those benefits the region’s governments must support regulatory frameworks and policies that ensure 5G flourishes, including making sufficient spectrum available,” Granryd commented.
