Ericsson: Strong 5G Penetration Makes GCC a Leading Candidate for Early 6G Adoption
The report shows that 53% of mobile subscriptions in the GCC were already on 5G networks by the end of 2025, giving the region the fourth-highest 5G penetration globally behind North America, North East Asia and Western Europe.
Gulf Cooperation Council countries are emerging as one of the world’s leading candidates for early 6G adoption, driven by rapid 5G penetration, advanced network deployments and strong consumer demand for digital services, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report.
The report shows that 53% of mobile subscriptions in the GCC were already on 5G networks by the end of 2025, giving the region the fourth-highest 5G penetration globally behind North America, North East Asia and Western Europe. Ericsson forecasts that GCC 5G penetration will climb to just under 90% by 2031, placing the region among the world’s most connected mobile markets. This high level of 5G adoption is one of the key reasons Ericsson expects the GCC to be among the earliest regions to launch commercial 6G services around 2030.
Ericsson noted that the first commercial 6G launches are expected in markets that adopted 5G early, specifically naming the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and the GCC countries as likely frontrunners. The company said 6G standardization work is already underway, with the first implementable specifications targeted for completion by late 2028 or early 2029.
The GCC’s readiness extends beyond consumer subscriptions. Ericsson highlighted the region’s high urbanization levels, strong consumer spending power and extensive 5G standalone (SA) deployments as factors enabling advanced services such as network slicing, AI-powered applications and premium fixed wireless access (FWA). The report also identified the GCC as one of the world’s strongest 5G FWA markets, alongside North America and the Nordics, reflecting both mature 5G infrastructure and effective monetization strategies.
Ericsson believes 6G will build on the foundations created by 5G SA, adding capabilities such as AI-native networking, integrated sensing and communications, tighter satellite integration and more energy-efficient network architectures. These technologies are expected to support future services including autonomous mobility, large-scale digital twins and immersive mixed-reality applications.
For the Gulf region, the report suggests that the combination of early 5G adoption, aggressive digital transformation programs and continued investment in advanced mobile infrastructure could allow GCC countries to play a leading role in shaping the next generation of global telecommunications.
