5G Investments Transform MEA’s Digital Future

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) are entering a new phase of digital acceleration driven by 5G. Nokia’s newly released MEA Mobile Broadband Index Report 2025 reveals that by 2030, 5G subscriptions across the region will hit 605 million, representing a quarter of all mobile connections and more than half of total mobile data traffic.

The report paints a picture of a region where network investments, policy support, and technology adoption are converging to redefine connectivity, productivity, and innovation.

Nokia’s analysis shows that by 2030, 82 percent of mobile connections in MEA will run on 4G and 5G networks. This shift is being accelerated by increased smartphone affordability and government-led digital transformation agendas. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the momentum is even stronger. By 2030, nine out of ten subscriptions will be 5G, the highest rate in the region.

Between 2024 and 2029, total data traffic in MEA is projected to quadruple, with 5G traffic alone growing ninefold. By 2029, 5G will carry 90 percent of total data traffic, underlining its role as the dominant technology of the next decade. The GCC’s leadership in 5G rollout is underpinned by national strategies such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Oman Digital 2030, and Kuwait’s 2035 Vision, which prioritise high-speed connectivity as the foundation of diversified digital economies.

The report also highlights the steady rise of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which is proving instrumental in bridging connectivity gaps in underserved areas. FWA subscriptions are expected to grow from 19 million in 2024 to 27 million by 2029, with 5G FWA adoption rising from 11 percent to 38 percent.

While fiber is forecast to remain the dominant fixed broadband technology, FWA’s lower infrastructure costs and faster deployment make it an appealing alternative for expanding last-mile connectivity. The GCC region leads again, with 93 percent of FWA connections expected to run on 5G by 2029, while North Africa is expected to record the highest growth rate at 63 percent.

The ongoing smartphone boom continues to redefine digital usage patterns. Nokia projects that by 2029, smartphones will make up 78 percent of all connected devices, while feature phones will decline to 11 percent. Affordable smartphones, coupled with broader network coverage, are driving digital inclusion across the continent.

Smartphones are also behind the exponential growth in data traffic. The report notes that video streaming will account for up to 90 percent of all mobile data traffic by 2029, making it the single largest driver of bandwidth demand. The GCC again leads in smartphone data traffic, expected to nearly triple between 2024 and 2029.

Telecom operators are witnessing a marked shift in their revenue streams. Nokia forecasts that data services will represent 75 percent of total telecom revenue by 2029, growing at a 6.5 percent CAGR, while voice revenue continues to decline.

To sustain profitability, Communications Service Providers (CSPs) are focusing on 5G monetisation through network slicing, automation, and industry-specific solutions. Nokia’s MantaRay Cognitive SON, deployed in more than 30 MEA networks, demonstrates the potential of AI-driven automation—reducing network problem detection and repair times by up to 90 percent and improving user throughput by 10 percent.

Beyond speed and scale, sustainability has become a defining feature of MEA’s telecom transformation. Nokia’s report highlights how AI and digital twin technologies are helping operators cut network energy consumption by 15–30 percent, reduce carbon emissions, and optimise resource use.

With just 37 percent of base stations carrying 80 percent of total network traffic, operators are under pressure to optimise network design and prioritise high-traffic zones for upgrades. Tools such as Nokia’s Digital Design for Energy Efficiency are enabling these decisions, leading to measurable reductions in OPEX and carbon footprint.

“Significant investments in 5G technology are being made by operators in the MEA region, which will serve as the engine to enable IoT, smart cities, and enterprise solutions,” said Mikko Lavanti, Senior Vice President, Mobile Networks, MEA, Nokia. “These advancements are expected to drive transformative use cases such as autonomous transportation, smart agriculture, and advanced healthcare services powered by real-time data analytics.”

The combination of 5G, edge computing, and AI is unlocking new opportunities for industries to improve efficiency and develop innovative services. As networks evolve, the region’s connectivity story is shifting from access to impact — from enabling communication to powering intelligent economies.

The MEA region is not just adopting 5G; it is building the digital foundation for the next decade of economic growth.