LTE subscriptions in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region are expected to grow to 860 million (a 29% increase) by 2023. This means total LTE subscriptions in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) will grow from 160 million in 2017 to 570 million by 2023 (23%).
The report also mentions strong growth forecasts for WCDMA/HSPA and LTE in the MENA during the same period. These are expected to rise from 50% to over 90% of total subscriptions by the end of 2023. By then, 5G subscriptions in the region could reach 17 million. Mobile traffic in MEA will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% while mobile subscriptions for the total MEA region are expected to grow at 4 % CAGR, equating to 3% growth in MENA. Mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to amount to 15% for the MEA region, from 820 million in 2017 to 1.85 billion by 2023. For Sub-Saharan Africa, the forecast is 16% from 350 million in 2017 to 880 million by 2023.
Of course, 5G and LTE need ample wireline support. Nicholas Blixell, Head of Ericsson’s West Africa Customer Unit, has stated that Africa needs to make internet accessible for rural dwellers and that global predictions indicate there would be one billion 5G subscriptions by 2023, cover over a fifth of the world’s population.
Source: FTTH Council MENA and IDATE
DIRECTOR GENERAL FTTH COUNCIL MENA
The Middle East North Africa region is already making big steps in the area of LTE rollout. Across the region, there is a marked need for low and high frequencies to support 5G – low frequencies for full coverage and capacity and high frequencies for very high data rates. According to research from the FTTH Council MENA and IDATE, LTE in the region is growing robustly in terms of subscribers and deployments. “We expect there will be more than 300,000 subscribers at the end of 2021,” says Christine Beylouni, Director General FTTH Council MENA. “LTE handsets are more affordable, but although spectrum availability and affordability have improved, they remain a major hurdle. Pricing and affordability of LTE data is another major challenge.”
“Adoption for LTE services has been slow, initially, but this is picking up now, owing to growing penetration of smartphones, improved coverage and increased data demand. Across the region, we’ll be seeing trials to validate technologies and requirements, latency and download peak speeds. In UAE, there will be trials this year and commercial launch is expected in 2019, before DubaiExpo 2020. In Qatar, we should also see trials this year and a commercial launch in 2020.”
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