Ericsson said that 5G subscriptions will represent around 40% of total subscriptions in the region by 2029
The total number of 5G mobile subscriptions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are forecasted to reach 850 million in 2029, up from 740 million in 2023, according to the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility report.
The Swedish vendor noted that 4G subscriptions in the MENA region will account for 54% of total mobile subscribers, while 5G subscriptions will represent around 40% of total subscriptions in the region by 2029.
The MENA region is also expected to experience significant mobile data traffic growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% forecast between 2023 and 2029. 4G traffic is expected to be the primary driver of growth with monthly data usage per smartphone expected to reach 45 GB by 2029, rising 17% annually.
Hakan Cervell, vice president and head of Saudi Arabia and Egypt at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, said: “The November 2023 edition of the Ericsson Mobility report shows that the growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by 2029 can be attributed to a remarkable increase in the number of 5G subscribers. MENA is witnessing an accelerated digitalization journey, driven by strong governmental ambitions and an increasing tech-savvy population in the region, and we are committed to our esteemed partners to deliver the technologies that will make it all happen.”
The latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility report also projects that total mobile subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa will grow at 3% annually from 940 million in 2023 to 1.1 billion in 2029.
The report also noted that 5G will be the fastest-growing subscription type between 2023 and 2029 at 60% annually, from 11 million in 2023 to 180 million by the end of 2029, and accounting for 16% of total connections at that time.
“The telecom sector in Sub-Saharan Africa remains resilient as connectivity has become a necessity for voice and data communications, as well as for enabling services such as banking. Driving forces behind the growth in the region include a positive economic outlook and forward-thinking regulatory measures for building out network coverage,” Ericsson said.
The number of global 5G subscriptions is expected to be 1.6 billion by the end of this year, accounting for 18% of all mobile subscriptions, according to Ericsson.
