Mobile Internet Uptake on the Rise in France

Mobile internet usage surges in 2011, after stagnating from 2009 to 2010


According to the annual report from French telecom and postal regulator l’Autorité de Régulation des Communications électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) and the Conseil général de l'industrie, de l'énergie et des technologies (CGEIET), digital activities conducted by mobile phone owners in France increased dramatically in 2011 over previous years.

Browsing the internet remained the most popular advanced content activity among mobile phone owners, with 24% of them doing so in 2011, vs. 15% in 2010 and 13% in 2009. In addition, reading email (19%), downloading applications (17%) and watching TV (8%) all nearly doubled in adoption rates over 2010, according to the report.

Mobile Activities of Mobile Phone Users in France, 2008-2011 (% of respondents)

By the end of 2012, eMarketer estimates total mobile phone users in France will reach 50 million and mobile internet users will reach 14 million, or roughly 28% of all mobile users in the country.