Middle East and Africa (MEA) Mobile Broadband Market Trends and Opportunities

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Mobile Broadband Market Trends and Opportunities in Africa and the Middle East – 2025,’ a new Telecom Insider Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the mobile broadband market in AME. It delivers quantitative and qualitative insights into the mobile market, analyzing key trends and growth drivers in the region.

'There are stark differences in the AME region’s mobile broadband market between sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region with the MENA region being more advanced.
Telecom regulatory authorities in both developed and developing market in AME have announced spectrum auctions, aimed at expanding 4G and 5G mobile network coverage, increasing mobile adoption, improving service quality, improving internet speeds, and increasing investments in wireless services.
4G will account for the largest share of subscriptions in AME over 2025-2030, supported by efforts by MNOs to expand and improve coverage. Operators have been aggressively investing in LTE network expansion to speed up data services.
The competitive dynamics of the market are changing in AME with the emergence of new MNOs and MVNOs. With some markets having only a few operators, the addition of new players can support the demand for mobile services, increase competition, and provide more investment in networks.

It provides an in-depth analysis of the following –
• Section 1: AME in a Global Context: This section provides a comparison of AME's macro-economic KPIs, mobile telecoms market size, and trends with other regions.
• Section 2: Regional Market Trends and Competitive Dynamics: This section analyzes the competitive dynamics that have been shaping the mobile broadband markets in AME over the past few years, including market entries, market exits, consolidations, and M&A activities.
• Section 3: Mobile Broadband Subscription Trends: Provides analysis, historical figures, and forecasts of mobile broadband subscriptions and usage trends in the region as well as their growth drivers.
• Section 4: Mobile Broadband Revenue Trends: Examines changes in the breakdown of overall revenue and ARPU over 2025-2030. • Section 5: Key findings: A summary of key findings and growth opportunities for AME's mobile broadband market.

Scope

This Regional Insider Report 'Mobile Broadband Trends in Africa and the Middle East – 2025' provides an assessment of mobile broadband trends and factors within the telecom segment in AME. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, AME's position in global context, competitive dynamics and mobile broadband subscription trends in AME.

Key Highlights

Unique mobile user penetration of population will increase from an estimated 67.1% in 2025 to 78.3% in 2030, driven by mobile network coverage expansions across the region.

Mobile subscriptions in AME will reach 2 billion in 2025.

4G services will account for an estimated 55.7% of total mobile subscriptions in the region in 2025 and will remain the leading mobile technology through 2030.

Reasons to Buy

This Insider Report provides a comprehensive examination through forward-looking analysis of AME’s mobile broadband markets trends in a concise analytical format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.

Accompanying GlobalData’s Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in AME’s mobile broadband markets.

The report is designed for an executive-level audience, with charts and tables boasting presentation quality.

The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive actionable insights will help operators, equipment vendors, and other telecom industry players better position to seize the growth opportunities in AME's evolving mobile broadband market.

Africell
Airtel Africa
Airtel Nigeria
Airtel Tigo
Beeline Telecom
Djezzy
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
Equitel
Ericsson
Ethio Telecom
Etisalat
e& Egypt
Guinetel
Hormuud Telecom
IHS Towers
Infrastructure Corporation of Africa LLC (ICA)
Loc8
Melon Mobile
Moov Africa CAR
MTN Benin
MTN Cameroon
MTN Congo-Brazzaville
MTN Group
MTN Nigeria
Omantel
Ooredoo Group
Ooredoo Algeria
Ooredoo Kuwait
Ooredoo Oman
Ooredoo Tunisie
Ooredoo Qatar
Orange Cote d’Ivoire
Orange CAR
Orange Egypt
Orange Morocco
Orange Tunisie
Renna Mobile
Safaricom
Spar Group
STC Kuwait
STC Group
Talkio Mobile
TASC Towers Iraq
Telecel Group
Telecom Egypt
Telecom Namibia
Telkom Kenya
Tunisie Télécom
Türk Telekom
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile Kuwait
Vitel Wireless
Vodacom
Vodafone Egypt
Vodafone Ghana
Vodafone Oman
Vodafone Turkey
Zain Bahrain
Zain Group
Zain KSA
Zain Kuwait
Zain Iraq
Zamtel

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways

2. AME in Global Context

3. Competitive Dynamics

4. Mobile Broadband Subscription Trends

5. Mobile Broadband Revenue Trends

6. Key Takeaways and Recommendations

7. Appendix

Figures

List of Figures

Population, 2021-2026 (billions)

Nominal GDP, 2021-2026 (US$ trillions

Real GDP growth, 2021-2026

User penetration, 2021 (% of population)

Subscription penetration, 2021 (% of population)

Prepaid subscriptions as a % of total subscriptions

Monthly ARPU, 2021 (US$)

Data as a share of total ARPU, 2021 (% of ARPU)

Monthly voice MOU, 2021 (minutes/month)

Major competitive changes, 2017-2021

MVNO subscriptions and share of total mobile subscriptions in AME, 2021 2026

Top five markets in terms of MVNO market share in AME*, 2021

Mobile user penetration vs. PPP-adjusted GDP per capita, 2021

Unique mobile users in AME, 2021 2026 (billions)

Mobile subscriptions and penetration in AME, 2021-2026

Mobile subscriptions by technology generation, 2021-2026

Top five markets* in terms of 5G subscriptions as a % of total subscriptions, 2026

Mobile subscriptions by device type, 2021-2026 (billions)

Net additions by device type, 2021 vs . 2026 (millions)

Mobile handset subscriptions by type, 2021-2026 (millions)

Selected MTN Ghana smartphone plans

M2M/IoT subscriptions and revenues , 2021-2026

Examples of solutions offered by telcos

Total mobile data traffic, 2021 vs . 2026 (PB)

MTN Nigeria Social Media Bundles

Mobile ARPU in AME (US$), 2021 vs. 2026

Cost of 1GB of data as % of the total monthly PPP adjusted GDP per capita, 2021 (US$)

Mobile service revenue by device type, 2021 vs. 2026

Fastest growing markets* in terms of mobile service revenue; CAGR 2021-2026

Middle East and Africa (MEA) Mobile Broadband Market Trends and Opportunities standard reports
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