The growth in the number of internet users in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is outpacing that of devices in the region.
According to the Visual Networking Index Service Forecast 2013-2018, the average numbers of devices and connections per capita were 0.92 in 2013 and is projected to grow to 1.28 in 2018, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 per cent.
However the numbers of devices and connections per internet user will drop by 5.1 per cent by 2018.
“Some emerging economies now have a lower average of devices and connections per Internet user than in the past. This is because in these regions the growth of Internet users is outpacing growth in devices and connections,” Cisco said.
“It’s also because of affordability, or the availability of disposable income to purchase multiple devices and connections.”
The company noted despite the decline the total number of devices per internet user was still far above one.
In 2013 the MEA had more devices per user than the global average.
HumanIPO reported in April cheap smartphones are the key to driving internet penetration on the continent.
“Growth is going to come from mobile phones and particularly low-end smartphones that are starting to flood the market,” said Dave Duarte, South African entrepreneur and social media expert.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) smartphone shipments in Africa were up in the second quarter (Q2) of 2013.
The IDC said Korean phone maker Samsung lead for the fourth quarter in a row, recording a 52.1 per cent share in African markets.
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