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Qatari Youth Leading The Way In ICT Penetration Rates And Smartphones Usage
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On average, a household in Qatar owns three mobile phones, two computers, and one smartphone, and people are using this technology to access the Internet in ever-greater numbers, according to a report commissioned by the telecoms regulator.
The report says that, when compared to other countries, Qatar has very high Internet penetration among mainstream individuals (excluding transient laborers) - a rate that is among the best in the Arab region and on par with ICT-advanced countries like South Korea and the UK.
Today, more than half of mainstream individuals own a smartphone, with the highest penetration levels among young people. In addition, a growing number of Qatari citizens are also buying tablet computers, with a quarter of households now owning and using at least one of these devices. Less than half of the mainstream Internet users in the country use a stationary desktop computer to access the Internet, with 87 percent using a laptop, 55 percent using a smartphone, and 14 percent using a tablet computer to log on instead.
In 2012, Qatar's mainstream Internet users went online most often to use email, followed by instant messaging. Sixty-one percent of mainstream users also report using social networking sites on a daily basis.
"Qatar continues to make great headway toward a truly digital future for all of its people," said Dr. Hessa Al-Jabar, ictQATAR's Secretary General. "Technology has the incredible capacity to inspire and propel change, innovation, and the progress necessary to ensure a competitive knowledge-based economy that will enrich the lives of all members of society," she added.
Despite the progress, a majority of people in Qatar still face ICT-related barriers: The biggest obstacle to universal ICT penetration and usage rates in Qatar remains a widespread lack of ICT skills among parts of the population, particularly female and older Qatari citizens, and transient laborers. The high cost of buying or renting computers and a lack of access to technology are other commonly reported obstacles, especially among the typically less educated, less affluent transient laborers.
"While we are proud of our achievements to date, we must redouble our efforts to eliminate the barriers that stand in the way of ensuring that all people in Qatar reap the personal and economic benefits of technology," said Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber. "ictQATAR will continue to make digital literacy a priority in the years to come," she added.
Tags: [Qatar]
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