According to GSMA’s report on MENA’s Mobile Economy report, the MENA region has some of the most penetrated mobile markets globally. It will see the fastest subscriber growth rate of any region, after sub-Saharan Africa. In 2025, the region is expected to have 500 million smartphones connected to the internet.
By 2023, mobile’s contribution will reach just over $220 billion. As a result of countries increased take-up of mobile services, citizens will benefit from improvements in productivity and efficiency.
The Gulf States Take the Lead
GSMA, the representative for mobile network operators said that to date, 12 operators have launched commercial 5G services in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Mobile operators in these countries are aiming to be global leaders in 5G deployments. The initiative falls under the digital transformation ambitions which these countries view as imperative to their growth. This is highlighted in strategic national visions of the region such as UAE Vision 2021 and Saudi Vision 2030.
Key Trend of the Digital Economy
The report listed 5G technologies as one of three key trends. The second is fintech, and cashless payments even though 60% of the population does not have a bank account. Nonetheless, the fintech market in the reach will reach a value of $2.5 billion by 2022.
Another regional key trend is blockchain. Dubai is using Blockchain-related technologies to deliver efficiency savings that can reach up to $1.17 billion annually in document processing costs alone. Dubai aims to become the ‘first paperless state’ by digitizing documents and transactions.
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. It unites more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.
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