The popularity of smartphones will drive internet usage in the Middle East and North Africa, says Global Web Index.
Online and outside. Image: MiddleEastEye |
A survey of 34 companies from the MENA region showed that people between the ages of 16-64 were marginally more likely to go online via a mobile device, as opposed to a desktop or laptop.
Mobile devices were used by 34% of consumers, whereas laptops and desktops were used as the device of choice by 33% and 30% of the respondents, respectively.
However, in more developed economies - such as Saudia Arabia, UAE and Turkey - smartphones had already significantly outstripped more traditional methods of logging on. Desktops in particular showed a steep decline in popularity.
The MENA region is mirroring trends shown across Asia Pacific markets, where rapidly developing economies and increasingly inexpensive smartphone technologies have lead to greater smartphone adoption.