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January 3, 2012

Middle East Mobile Users To Cross 250 million




source : International Telecom Union

The number of mobile subscriptions in the Middle East  will cross the 250-million mark during 2012, reaching 271.27 million at end-2012 and rising to 352 million at 2016 end, according to forecasts by Informa Telecoms & Media.
 
 
Additionally, the average mobile penetration rate for the Middle East will cross the 100% mark in 2012: It will rise from 97.72% at end-2011 to 107.09% at end-2012, exceeding the mobile penetration rate in North America (US/Canada) for the first time. (The mobile penetration rate in North America at end-2012 will be 102.77%.)
 
Iran will continue to be the biggest mobile market in the Middle East by subscriptions with 82.91 million subscriptions forecast for end-2011, rising to 122.13 million at end-2016. Saudi Arabia has the next biggest mobile market in the region by subscriptions, with a 50.8 million active mobile subscriptions forecast for end-2011, rising to 71.32 million at end-2016.