Middle East and Africa Region 5G Userbase to Hit 10.4 Million in 2021
Middle East and Africa region telcos plan to extend their user base by welcoming 7.58 million subscribers in 2021 by the amplifying enrolment of the fifth generation of mobile network (5G), according to GlobalData study.
The study determined that expansion in 5G subscription rates will be synchronized with telecom operators, as the industry is implementing the required measures to escalate 5G networks, with recent launches spreading across the region, such as Iran and Kenya.
According to the data analysis company, Middle East and Africa region 5G subscriber base will outstretch to reach 10.4 million users by the end of the current year, with the overwhelming mass of users settling in the Gulf region, Israel, and South Africa, with Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE seizing the top three ranks in terms of percentages of 5G mobile subscribers in 2021.
It is worth mentioning that the data covered is exclusively restricted to the market covered by GlobalData.
“5G activity in AME is predominantly centered around the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with operators in countries like Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have launched their 5G networks in 2019. These countries have some of the highest purchasing power parity (PPP)- Adjusted GDP per capita and unique mobile user penetration in the region, supporting the investment in launching and expanding 5G networks as well as 5G adoption,” Telecoms Market Data & Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, Madison Galati said in a statement.
“With the advancements of 5G network rollouts, telecom operators are adopting strategies to draw 5G subscribers with data-centric 5G plans and added value services. For example, in Israel, three MNOs – Partner, Pelephone, and Hot Mobile – offer 5G postpaid plans with 1,000 GB of data. In addition, in Qatar, both MNOs offer 5G plans with unlimited data with added services such as cyber security solutions and SVoD subscriptions. Outside of the GCC countries, operators such as Turk Telekom are conducting 5G trials, and governments are outlining 5G rollout plans,” Galati added.
The state of 5G in the Middle East will expand on a national 5G network level, while countries in the region might not have the privilege of experiencing 5G enrollment anytime soon due to their less developed economies, resulting in a lesser IoT exposure.
While the UAE and Israel are not included in this equation, various countries’ suffering from political and economic conflicts, such as Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen will most likely continue to adopt 3G and 4G as their go-to networks while struggling to secure and maintain investments to elevate their mobile network’s capacity.
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