UAE has 14.9m mobile users

The UAE had 14.9 million mobile phone users at the end of July, more than seven times the number of landline subscribers and one of the world’s highest ratios.

The number of GSM subscribers slipped month-to-month by around 14,900 to 14.9 3 million at the end of July, maintaining a high penetration ratio of nearly 180 per cent for a population of about 8.2 million.

Figures by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which oversees the country’s telcom sector, showed the number of internet users rose by 7,000 in July to end the month at 1.013 million. Landline subscribers also increased by about 9,000 to exceed two million at the end of that month.

The UAE has one of the world’s highest mobile phone penetration ratios relative to its population given its high per capita income, advanced GSM services, open market and a general trend by users to own more than one number.