5G Adoption in MEA by 2030

By 2030, the GCC states will lead global 5G adoption, reaching 95% of total connections or 99 million 5G connections, up from 30% in 2023. The growth of leading 5G markets will be driven by extensive network coverage, robust marketing, and widespread availability of 5G devices. These regions are advancing towards 5G Standalone (SA) and planning for 5G-Advanced.

In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa will see 5G connections rise to 17% of total connections (234 million) by 2030, and the rest of MENA will achieve 44% (347 million). The slower growth in these regions is due to challenges related to affordability and spectrum availability, with 4G remaining dominant until 2030. This highlights significant regional disparities in 5G adoption rates.