Opensignal once again evaluates the mobile experience of our users in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, comparing it to neighboring regional markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Key findings:
- Saudi Arabia places third for 5G Download Speed among comparable markets in the EMEA region.
- Our Qatari users observe the fastest average 5G download speeds in its group of countries within the EMEA region, while Kuwait and Bahrain place third and fourth, respectively.
- Of the GCC markets, all but Oman (195.8Mbps) see average 5G download speeds above 200Mbps.
- For Download Speed Experience, Saudi Arabia and Oman perform strongly in Group I, placing seventh and eighth, respectively, with scores of 43.2Mbps and 41.9Mbps. In Group II, Kuwait is in sixth place with 67.3Mbps, while Bahrain follows in ninth with 58.2Mbps.
- Our users in Kuwait, Oman, the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s overall average download speeds have risen by 5-44% year-on-year, with Kuwaiti and Emirati users seeing the largest and smallest percentage improvements, respectively. These increases can be mainly attributed to rising 5G adoption across the GCC region.
- Progress in terms of 5G Download Speed scores has been more mixed, with only our users in Bahrain (16%), Qatar (15%) and Oman (4%) seeing their speeds rise by more than 1%.
- Looking at GCC capitals, our users in Kuwait City see the fastest overall download speeds, while users in Doha, the capital of Qatar, observe the fastest download speeds when connected to 5G.
A total of 57 markets are analyzed in this comparison, of which 35 are included in 5G markets comparisons. To ensure more meaningful comparisons when comparing EMEA markets, we have split them into the same categories we use for the Global Mobile Network Experience Awards. Group I consists of markets with a land area greater than 200,000km2, while Group II consists of markets below this threshold.
We have also analyzed how average 5G and overall download speeds have changed year-on-year observed by our users in the GCC markets and explored GCC capitals’ download speeds.
Starting with 5G Download Speed, in Group I Saudi Arabia places third, narrowly behind first-placed France and runner-up Finland. Oman is further behind, placing seventh with a score less than 200Mbps.
In Group II, Qatar tops the chart with an impressive score of 359.2Mbps — 22% faster than second-placed Denmark. Kuwait and Bahrain are in third and fourth place, respectively, while the UAE is in seventh place with 260Mbps.
Most of the GCC markets were 5G early adopters, with all but Oman launching commercial services in 2019. Due to their desire to diversify their economies away from oil, GCC governments have strongly encouraged technological innovation through a range of initiatives and long-term plans, such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the UAE’s Smart Dubai Vision, Oman Digital 2030 and Kuwait’s National Development Plan. In addition, Qatar and the UAE both have two mobile operators allowing more spectrum to be allocated to each operator than would be the case in a three or four operator market.
We now turn to the average overall download speeds observed by our users across all generations of mobile technology — Download Speed Experience. Both Saudi Arabia and Oman perform strongly in Group I, placing seventh and eighth, respectively, with scores of 43.2Mbps and 41.9Mbps. Over in Group II, Kuwait is in sixth place with 67.3Mbps, while Bahrain follows in ninth with 58.2Mbps.
GCC markets’ Download Speed Experience scores are rising, especially in Kuwait, where our users have seen a 44% YoY improvement in their average download speeds. Our Saudi and Omani users have also seen double-digit percentage increases — 14% and 18%, respectively. These improvements are being driven primarily by growing 5G adoption.
As shown in the chart above, GSMA Intelligence forecasts that the percentage of mobile connections in GCC markets that are 5G will rise by 11-13 percentage points between the end of 2023 and the end of 2024, continuing a firmly established trend. The GSMA has also predicted that by 2030, average 5G adoption in GCC markets will hit 95% compared to the global average of 54%.
The more 5G users there are within a market and the more time they spend connected to 5G, the more the overall experience of our users will reflect the experience they have on 5G.
The high proportion of Kuwaiti users with access to 5G, together with the high 5G download speeds, helps explain why Kuwait scores so highly for Download Speed Experience.
On the other hand, progress in terms of 5G Download Speed scores has been more mixed, with only our users in Bahrain (with an increase of 16%), Qatar (15%) and Oman (4%) seeing their speeds rise by more than 1%. This is to be expected. Without the release of additional spectrum, rising 5G adoption means more traffic on 5G networks — which increases congestion.
However, GCC markets are looking ahead to 5G Advanced — which comes with a raft of improvements such as the use of AI/machine learning to enhance energy efficiency, as well as enhancements for XR, RedCap (Reduced Capability) for IoT devices and passive IoT.
In Saudi Arabia Zain is seeking to launch 5G Advanced services in the Kingdom’s top eight cities in 2024-2026, with a focus on IoT CCTV using RedCap technology. Over in the UAE, the Emirati regulator, TDRA intends to develop a national plan for 5G Advanced.
Looking at the mobile experience in the GCC capitals, the picture closely resembles that at the national level, with our users in Kuwait City seeing the fastest overall download speeds — 79.5Mbps or 46% faster than the speeds seen in the next highest scoring capital in the region, Riyadh. Similarly, users in Doha, the capital of Qatar, see the fastest download speeds when connected to 5G, 360.7Mbps or 17% faster than those in the runner-up Kuwait City.
We have seen that the experience in most GCC markets compares favorably against that in other EMEA markets in terms of the average 5G download speeds observed by our users. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait do well in terms of Download Speed Experience when compared to other EMEA markets in their respective groups. In addition, GCC markets’ Download Speed Experience scores have risen significantly YoY due to rising 5G adoption. Opensignal will continue to explore the changing mobile experience in GCC markets, so please look out for future insights on this and related topics and contact us if you are interested in learning more.
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