DOHA: M360 MENA officially opened in Doha today with Ooredoo Qatar as the host sponsor, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Qatar. The event brought together leaders from the technology, telecom, and government sectors, highlighting mobile services’ projected contribution of $360 billion to the region’s GDP by 2030.
The Opening Ceremony featured key figures including His Excellency Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Qatar’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO of Ooredoo, and Jawad Abbassi, Head of MENA at GSMA. They highlighted the importance of collaboration across industries to drive the digital economy forward.
The agenda of M360 MENA 2024 covered critical topics like 5G monetization, building AI-ready networks, smart projects driven by digital innovations, and digital partnerships vital to advancing the region’s digital landscape.
In the first keynote, Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, expressed excitement about hosting the event in Doha for the first time. He emphasized the transformative potential of AI, digital partnerships, and mobile connectivity for the MENA region. Granryd stated, “With mobile services projected to contribute $360 billion to the region’s GDP by 2030, M360 MENA serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation.”
Ooredoo Qatar’s CEO, Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, shared the company’s commitment to driving digital transformation. He highlighted Ooredoo’s leadership in AI and 5G initiatives, which aim to enhance connectivity and improve quality of life for the people of Qatar. Through its partnership with GSMA, Ooredoo is contributing to the development of a strong digital ecosystem that aligns with Qatar’s vision to become a leader in technology and innovation.
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative was also discussed at the event, with Ooredoo joining other regional operators such as E&, du, Omantel, and Zain in this groundbreaking initiative. The GSMA Open Gateway framework, launched at MWC Barcelona 2023, offers developers universal access to operator networks, facilitating the creation of new digital products and services with an initial focus on fraud prevention and security.
Additionally, the GSMA launched the Mobile Economy MENA 2024 report, which predicts that by 2030, 5G will account for half of all mobile connections in the region. The report highlights the rapid adoption of generative AI by operators to improve customer service, optimize network performance, and explore new business opportunities. Other key findings from the report include:
- In 2023, mobile technologies and services contributed 5.5% of MENA’s GDP, equating to $310 billion and supporting approximately 1.3 million jobs.
- By 2030, mobile services are expected to contribute $360 billion to the region’s GDP, driven by the growth of 5G and mobile internet connectivity.
- 64% of the population (427 million people) were subscribed to a mobile service by the end of 2023, with nearly half (49%) using mobile internet.
- Licensed cellular IoT connections are expected to grow from 48 million in 2023 to 78 million by 2030.
In addition to the report, M360 MENA 2024 introduced the GSMA Foundry AI Use Case Library, showcasing over 60 real-world AI use cases from global tech leaders such as Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, Nokia, and IBM. This library demonstrates how AI is transforming mobile technology, from customer service to network planning.
M360 MENA 2024 also provided a platform for showcasing innovative ideas, discussions on industry trends, and opportunities for collaboration. The GSMA’s M360 series continues to bring together the global mobile ecosystem, with the next event, MWC Barcelona, scheduled for March 3-6, 2025.
About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unites the mobile ecosystem to foster innovation for positive business and societal change. The GSMA works to unlock the power of connectivity to benefit people, industries, and society, while advancing policy and providing a platform for mobile ecosystem collaboration through events like MWC and M360.
