The large capex and opex requirements for rolling out 5G mobile networks across the Middle East markets are giving MNOs and regulators reason to rethink their strategies, and discussions are taking place about the possibility of forming a NetCo as a means to enable 5G network build-out on a more reasonable cost basis.
NetCos can be viewed as a natural extension of the already-established towercos, which have been increasing in popularity over the past few years. The difference is that towercos share passive infrastructure elements across all MNOs in a given market, while a NetCo aims at sharing active elements as well.
