Chapter 2. The ICT Development Index (IDI) Box 2.7: Mobile-cellular penetration reaching top levels in Saudi Arabia Among developing countries, Saudi Arabia experienced the highest IDI percentage value increase (31 per cent, as com-pared much room for potential growth in the Saudi Arabian broad-band market. with the developing country average of 15 per cent). Saudi Arabia moved up eight places in the access sub-index and ten places in the use sub-index. Underlying the access sub-index increase was the important progress in international Internet bandwidth, which grew from 20 000 Mbit/s to 317 940 Mbit/s, and in mobile-cellular subscriptions, which grew from 138 to 188 per 100 inhabitants (Chart Box 2.7). Internet user penetration stands at 41 users per 100 inhabitants, and fixed-broadband The Saudi Arabian mobile sector is one of the more competi-tive markets in the region, with the three largest Middle Eastern regional players having a presence in the country (STC, Etisalat and Zain). Mobily is pushing an extensive mobile-broadband network after winning the GSM/3G licence in 2004, and has future plans to provide WiMAX service to the 20 cities it co-vers. Fixed-telephone line penetration remains steady, with subscriptions showed a 36 per cent increase, along 4 165 750 lines in 2010 and a penetration rate of 15 per cent (one per cent year-on-year growth). with a large increase in mobile-broadband subscriptions. It is no surprise that the jump in mobile-broadband subscriptions is the main reason behind the increase in the use sub-index. Saudi Arabia’s mobile-broadband penetration grew from nine per cent in 2008 to 58 per cent in 2010 (Chart Box 2.7). The expat customers and younger age groups are an influential part of this subscription base. This shows that there is still Under the National Communications and Information Techno-logy Plan (NCITP) initiatives, the Government of Saudi Arabia has launched several projects, especially in the e-business segment, with the aim of facilitating access to the Internet and improving its performance.35 Chart Box 2.7: Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, 2000-2010 (left) and active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, 2008 and 2010 (right) % Saudi Arabia Oman United Arab Emirates Jordan Arab States average World average % 70 200 60 160 50 Saudi Arabia 120 40 Arab States average 80 30 20 40 10 0 0 2008 2010 Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database. # ( 6$ ' $ * #8, ( ( 8 $( $ $ +%+ % ;)0?( % ( ( E : # #8% ' $ * ( \"( ( ' $ * ='*> $ 9 )* ( , ( , % % $ \" ( % +) 4 ) 9$ $ ?/ ($ )( + ( ( ( (\"( % $ = 1/$ >,# C =( > \"G \"=( >) * % ( + ( ( $ # # 5 = # )., 0$ >)-6)@$ \"( ( +L 3% $ \" ) 20