BY SACHIN KUMAR
DOHA: More people are getting connected to online world with Internet connectivity rising sharply in Qatar. The Internet penetration, for individuals in Qatar, has jumped to 85 percent in 2013 from 69 percent in 2010, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR).
“The sharp rise in Internet connectivity in Qatar can be attributed to the increase in the usage of communication devices such as laptops, tablet computers and smartphones,” a senior official of ictQatar said. “Internet has many useful services for its users ranging from making cheaper calls to accessing vast information and settling financial transactions. Qatar has diverse population and everyone is using Internet and smart devices as per its needs,” he added.
The usage of communication devices has also increased significantly in Qatar. In 2013, a household in Qatar had approximately nine mobile phones, on average, compared to nearly four in 2012, according to ictQatar data. Laptop ownership has also increased from 2 to 3.2 laptops per household over the same time period, while the growth in desktops has been relatively flat due to the mounting demand for mobility.
“I use my phone for variety of purposes and not just for making calls. With the help of Internet on my smartphone, I make cheaper calls to family members in my home country, read news, play games and watch movies. WiFi is free in my office while I have subscribed to Internet connection for using Internet at home,” said an Indian expatriate residing in Najma. “By using Internet I save money while making calls and entertain myself at home,” he said.
WiFi is the preferred mode of connecting to the Internet across the various Internet enabled devices used by people in Qatar, except desktops Mobile phones are now used by nearly 100 percent of the population, while smartphone penetration stands at 65 percent. The penetration of laptops also increased from 83 percent in 2012 to 93 percent in 2013.
The growth in Internet penetration is seen at both the household and individual levels. “Internet penetration is nearing 100 percent with 98 percent of the mainstream population having an Internet connection at home compared to 82 percent in 2010,” said the report titled ‘Qatar’s ICT Landscape 2014: Households and Individuals’.
People have also migrated to higher Internet speeds. The penetration of connections of less than 256 Kbps is negligible now, with the 256 Kbps to one Mbps speed connections also decreasing. Higher speed connections are increasing. Connections at four Mbps and above increased from seven percent in 2010 to 14 percent in 2013. The Peninsula
