MENA’s 5G connections are forecast to grow from 67 million in 2025 to nearly 350 million by 2030, according to forthcoming GSMA Intelligence research. The report says operators will need new revenue streams to justify an additional $53 billion in network investment between 2026 and 2030.
By September 2026, 17 of the region’s 24 markets had launched commercial 5G. The research identifies fixed wireless broadband, private networks and enterprise AI as the main opportunities for turning network expansion into commercial services.
Fixed wireless access is described as the clearest near-term consumer opportunity. It uses mobile networks to provide broadband to homes and businesses, allowing operators to compete for a share of fixed connectivity spending. As of November 2026, 36 of MENA’s 56 commercial 5G networks offered a fixed wireless service. In Saudi Arabia, it represents about one-fifth of broadband connections.
Private 5G networks are also gaining ground in industrial sectors. Examples cited by GSMA Intelligence include a network at Morocco’s Nador West Med industrial hub and a planned UAE network connecting sensors across ADNOC’s onshore and offshore operations.
Operators are additionally exploring AI infrastructure, including GPU access, locally hosted platforms and edge computing. The research cautions that large cloud providers and state-backed AI companies may capture much of the infrastructure value, making enterprise-focused services and defined customer use cases especially important.
The full GSMA Intelligence analysis is scheduled for release on November 8 alongside MWC Doha 2026.
Source: Rasmal
