5G mobile subscriptions in Gulf to pass 62 mln by 2026 - Ericsson

Ericsson says 5G mobile subscriptions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will exceed 62 million by the end of 2026, representing about 73 percent of total mobile subscriptions. According to the Ericsson report, this will make the GCC the region with the second-highest 5G penetration at that time. About 80 percent of total mobile data traffic in the GCC countries is forecast to be carried by 5G networks in 2026. New 5G applications and services are expected to have a profound impact on a range of industry verticals. 

GCC service providers were among the first in the world to launch 5G, with commercial services available in most of the member states during 2019. Service providers are using 5G network performance as a key to differentiation in a highly competitive market. This is positioning the GCC countries to be second only to North America for 5G subscription penetration by the end of 2026.

The report says over 90 percent of mobile subscriptions in the region were for mobile broadband at the end of 2020 and this is estimated to reach 95 percent in 2026. In terms of mobile data, data traffic per smartphone was the highest globally at the end of 2020, exceeding 18 GB per month. By the end of the forecast period, it is expected to reach an average of 42 GB per month.