Usage of mobile internet on the rise in Pakistan
KARACHI: Pakistani users are increasingly using internet on their mobile phones and in 2014 the usage of mobile internet will overtake the desktop internet, reveals a survey by IDC (International Data Corporation).
While the desktop is still dominant with 91 percent owning personal computer at home, 45 percent of them own smart phone or tablet and 18 percent cited the latter as their primary device, according to the survey sponsored by Google.
The IDC survey further shows 86 percent use PCs, 77 percent smart phones, 73 percent feature phones and 59 percent use tablets every day to access the internet.
“We think 2014 is the year when mobile internet will overtake desktop internet in Pakistan. Consumers are really starting to embrace smart phones and tablets,” said Tania Aidrus, manager for Asian Growth Markets Google Asia Pacific.
The American research firm conducted the Pakistan Digital Consumer Study earlier this quarter, asking questions from 1,000 Pakistanis.
Of those surveyed, 70 percent spend time daily on the internet and 60 percent prefer the surfing over watching TV (41 percent) and newspaper reading (24 percent). The average time spent on the internet is 2.25 hours a day on weekdays.
Social media, email and general search are the top three activities, say the findings. Popular on smart phones are online banking, researching financial services and investment, and bill payments.
The main challenges to internet proliferation in Pakistan, the survey notes, are the quality and reliability of connectivity, including poor speed or bandwidth availability, perceived value-for-money, customer service quality, limited choice of plans and frequency of service interruptions.
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