Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

after the full acquisition of operations in
Pakistan, Leonard said that the company
aims to allow mobile network operators in
Pakistan to meet their increased coverage
and capacity requirements for rapidly
growing data demands. The Finance
Minister assured the delegation that the
government aims at provide every possible
support for easing business operations
and facilitating foreign direct investment in
Pakistan. Ismail also appreciated Tawal’s
operations and its value and significance
for the development of the telecom sector
of Pakistan. Later, while speaking with
SAMAA TV, the finance minister confirmed
Tawal’s expansion plans into Pakistan,
noting that the Saudi firm had acquired a
local firm to start Pakistan operations. He some 70-80 mobile telecommunication telecommunication companies and that
further disclosed that the firm will set up towers around the country for local they plan to make massive investments.

5G Subscriptions to Reach 263 million in MEA By 2026

Nokia research forecasts 5G subscriptions
to reach 263 million in the Middle East
and Africa (MEA) region by 2026. The
5G subscription growth will primarily
be in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
countries, including Saudi Arabia, the
UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Additionally, subscribers in South Africa,
Nigeria and North African countries will
increase adoption following the release
of new spectrum. This trend is triggered
by the increasing use of high-bandwidth
consumer applications and industrial use
cases. The Nokia MEA Broadband Index
Report – I provides insight, data and
analysis on mobile broadband subscribers,
coverage, ARPU and traffic growth in the
MEA region, as well its respective sub-
regions: GCC, Southern Africa, North region is expected to have a 20 percent Head of Mobile Networks, Nokia MEA, said,
Africa, Middle East, and Central East West increase in total subscribers by 2026, “Globally, the pace of 5G network rollouts
Africa. The report has been created based compared to 2022. In Central East West has surpassed 4G/LTE networks. Two years
on Nokia’s intelligence, as well as data Africa, more than 60 percent of the total after the first LTE launch there were only 25
from third-party sources, GlobalData and data traffic is currently carried by 4G. This million subscriptions across 60 networks,
Tutela. In GCC countries, 5G subscriber traffic is expected to grow four times over while two years after the first 5G launch,
base is expected to reach 64 percent of the next four years. At the same time, 5G 340 million subscriptions were registered
the total and data traffic likely to surpass subscriptions are expected to account across 155 networks. Similarly, in MEA,
70 percent by 2026, according to the study. for nearly 10 percent of the total mobile our MEA Broadband Index Report finds
While 4G subscribers in the Southern subscribers in this period. The study 40 percent year-on-year growth in 4G data
Africa region are projected to reach 105 also reveals that 5G and 4G together are traffic but a huge 350 percent year-on-year
million (58 percent of total subscribers) expected to drive more than 90 percent growth in 5G data traffic in 2021 alone. This
by 2026, 5G will contribute more than one- of data traffic in MEA. Total data traffic is trend in the region clearly indicates that
fifth of data traffic in the same time-frame. expected to increase significantly in the there is a pressing need for the adoption
North African operators have seen a high next four years with a compound annual and expansion of 5G networks across the
demand for mobile broadband and the growth rate of 35 percent. Mikko Lavanti, region.”
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