Doha: Use of portable devices such as laptops, tablet computers and smartphones is rising rapidly with nearly 100 percent of Qatar’s population using mobile phones, according to a report released yesterday by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.
According to the report, ‘Qatar’s ICT Landscape 2014: Households and Individuals’, all segments of Qatar’s population have access to Internet-enabled ICT (Information and Communication, Technology) devices, particularly mobile phones, with newer devices such as smartphones and tablets yet to fully penetrate.
“This new research not only shows that our current programmes and policies have been working, it also offers a road map for where we need to go to address the lagging indicators as well as insight into what we must do to get there,” said the Minister of Information and Communications Technology H E Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber.
“No matter what it takes, we remain 100 percent committed to advancing the digital agenda in Qatar,” she added.
According to the report, there has been an ongoing transition from general access to ICT devices and technologies to the use of advanced online services.
Use of portable devices such as laptops, tablet computers, and smartphones among the overall population has increased, with mobile phones used by nearly 100 percent of the population, while smartphone penetration is about 65 percent.
The penetration of laptops also increased from 83 percent in 2012 to 93 percent in 2013 and the penetration of tablets tripled over the same period to 29 percent in 2013.
The report said 52 percent of Qataris connected to the Internet used a tablet computer in 2013, compared to 32 percent in 2012.
ICT usage is focused on basic services, with nearly 100 percent of the overall population using mobile phones for telephone calls and SMS. As per the report, 83 percent of people use the Internet for email services, and 93 percent of those using the Internet logs on to social networking platforms.
However, only 18 percent of the overall population use Internet banking, with 15 percent using the Internet for e-commerce.
While broad ICT access has almost been achieved in Qatar, there is much room for improvement when it comes to advanced usage that will drive future innovation and economic success.
Qatar is in line with the global trend of people demanding more mobility in their connectivity options, particularly with the increased penetration of mobile phones and laptops. About 85 percent of Internet users in Qatar use a laptop and 71 percent a smartphone to get online.
Data from the survey show that people across the education spectrum access social networking, VoIP, and other basic Internet services.
Social networking was used by almost 93 percent of respondents who are active online.
The study consisted of qualitative and quantitative research, including 11 focus groups, in-depth interviews and a survey of 2,207 residents across genders, ages, nationalities and municipalities.
The Peninsula
