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.