Applying the European 5G Action Plan to MEA will require adjustments to local spectrum frameworks

The European Union (EU) approved the 5G Action Plan in September 2016. This plan highlights several “pioneer” spectrum bands (700MHz and 3.4–3.8GHz)....

How Internet exchange points (IXPs) drive growth of the Internet ecosystem in the Middle East: the case of UAE-IX

In the Middle East, UAE-IX provides a good case study on the impact that an Internet exchange point (IXP) can have on a region. This article examines...

Gulf operators are scaling up their IT capabilities for enterprises but should do more to attract SMEs

e&, stc and Zain are expanding their IT portfolios to become regional IT players. These groups are well-positioned to continue to grow their...

Operators in Saudi Arabia can benefit from the government’s plans for the gaming market

The Saudi government made significant investments into the gaming industry in 2022 via its sovereign fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Local...

Operators in MENA can learn from sub-brands oodi and Yooz to better target the youth market

Operators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have been revisiting the sub-brand model to grow their subscriber market shares and experiment...

Selected MNOs are showing their peers how to use eSIM services to compete with digital-only rivals

Odido, Telefónica, T-Mobile USA and Vodafone have launched new eSIM-enabled services in 2025. eSIMs help operators to expand their addressable...

SSA leads 5G launches in 2023, while 5G SA launches show the most progress in WE and MENA

Sub-Saharan Africa has dominated 5G launch figures so far in 2023, with 13 new launches across 10 countries. Western Europe and the Middle East and...