That contribution has been boosted by rising mobile broadband adoption, growing subscriber numbers, and increasing smartphone use across the region.

 

Gulf Cooperation Council states will be among the first in the world to launch commercial 5G networks, with major operators such as Etisalat and Ooredoo already undertaking live 5G trials.

 

The early 5G launches in the region, based on 3GPP Release 15, will be deployed in dense urban areas to offer increased performance and add capacity. Later launches will focus on the development of massive IoT and critical communication services.

 

Download now: IT leader's guide to the rise of smart cities

 

As a precursor to 5G, mobile IoT networks are also now well positioned to securely connect sensors across cities, supporting smart city initiatives such as the UAE's Smart Dubai project, and find solutions to increasingly congested transport and energy networks in some of the most highly urbanized cities in the world.

 

We are also seeing regional operators invest in startups to accelerate innovation, diversifying into areas such as content, financial services and AI.

 

MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

Matthew Reed, practice leader Middle East and Africa, Ovum

 

One of the biggest developments in the Middle East's technology sector in the past year was Amazon's acquisition of Souq.com, a leading regional online shopping site.

 

The deal, which was reportedly worth $580m, represents a landmark for the digital economy in the Middle East, as the arrival of the world's biggest e-tailer should help to drive the development of e-commerce in the region.

 

Middle East investors, who have long preferred sectors such as retail and property, have also recently taken a much stronger interest in technology. Noon, an e-commerce site backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund, and other Gulf investors, went live at the end of September.

 

Saudi Arabia's incumbent telecom provider, STC, has launched a $500m technology investment fund that plans to back Middle East ventures in areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, digital health, and financial services.

 

And on an even grander scale, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund joined with Japan's Softbank as well as other investors including Apple, Qualcomm, and Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala, to launch a $93bn global technology investment fund that will target sectors like AI and robotics.

 

Tying these digital moves together is an underlying need to develop and diversify Middle East economies for a future that is less dependent on oil.

 

BIG YEAR FOR CLOUD AND BLOCKCHAIN

Arun Khehar, senior vice president, business applications, ECEMEA, Oracle.

 

Although cloud technologies can transform how businesses run, the overwhelming majority of workloads still reside on premise. That situation is simply because moving to the cloud demands real change, not just in terms of systems but also, more importantly, in terms of people.