The number of telecom subscribers in the UAE, which includes fix lines and data services, amounted to 23.64 million in 2019, according to local media reports.
Local media also reported that the number of phone subscribers reached 18,278,817 during the period. While prepaid-service subscribers amounted to 14,655,021, post-paid service mobile subscribers reached 3,623,796.
Reportedly, up to 3,016,318 people subscribed to internet services and around 2,345,578 subscribed to fixed-lines till August 2019.
Recently, Bahrain-based telecom operator Batelco entered into a partnership with du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), to launch 5G international roaming services in the UAE.
Now Batelco’s telecom customers will be able to access 5G by using du’s network in the UAE.
With regard to the partnership with UAE’s du, Batelco chief executive Mikkel Vinter told the media, “The partnership is testament to Batelco’s continuous efforts to provide its customers with solutions that enrich their experience. This agreement becomes one of our 1,560 roaming agreements with international telecommunication companies and we are proud to be the first operator in the Kingdom to provide this service using a 5G network outside of Bahrain.
“Furthermore, we strive to be the leaders in bringing the latest telecom and digital solutions to the Kingdom. Accordingly, we were the first to launch 5G commercially in Bahrain, and today, we are proud to be the first to launch 5G international roaming too.”
Last year, Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company Ericsson predicted that 5G subscribers in the Middle East and African region will reach 60 million in the next five years.
According to Ericsson, a majority of these telecom subscribers will be from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.