Telecoms service revenue in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will grow at a CAGR of 2.9 per cent in the period from 2013 to 2018 to reach $96 billion (€69 billion) in 2018. According to Analysys Mason, this will be primarily driven by mobile data growth, with mobile retail revenue rising from $50.4 billion in 2013 to $59.1 billion in 2018. However, the company also noted that ARPU will come under significant pressure: competition and a decline in the underlying cost of providing services are putting downward pressure on service pricing, and spending is shifting from services to devices. The research company also warned that operators need to be prepared for the significant impact of over-the-top (OTT) messaging and eventually voice, as the penetration of smartphones passes 50 per cent in some countries. Report