The GSMA says 49% of people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) were in areas reached by mobile networks yet did not use mobile internet in 2025, putting access and adoption at the center of MWC26 Doha’s opening.
MWC26 Doha opened Nov. 8 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Organized by the GSMA with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the three-day event runs through Nov. 10. The GSMA said opening discussions addressed cross-border compatibility among telecom systems and broader adoption of mobile internet.
GSMA figures show 48% of MENA’s population used mobile internet in 2025. The organization estimated mobile technologies and services generated $380 billion in regional economic value, equal to 5.8% of gross domestic product. It projects the contribution will reach $470 billion by 2030.
GSMA Intelligence says coverage alone does not ensure adoption: device and data affordability, digital skills and relevant content also shape use.
Commercial 5G had launched in 17 of the region’s 24 markets by September 2026, according to GSMA Intelligence. The group forecasts that 5G connections will rise from 67 million in 2025 to almost 350 million by 2030. It also forecasts a further $53 billion in operator investment in 5G standalone and 5G-Advanced from 2026 through 2030.
GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath said, “Progress only counts if everyone shares in it.” Qatar’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai said demand for resilient networks and advanced computing capabilities is growing.
This is the second MWC Doha and the first time the GSMA’s MWC event is being held alongside the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference, the GSMA said. The ITU meeting, known as PP-26, is scheduled in Doha from Nov. 9 to 27.
Delegates are due to establish the ITU’s strategic and financial plans for 2028–31 and elect its senior management team. Those decisions are the next scheduled policy milestone following MWC26 Doha’s opening.
