The estimated number of Egyptian Internet users has grown by around 15 percent, reaching some 36 million in June this year, compared to 31.21 million during the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Out of a population of some 85 million (according to official figures by state-run statistics body CAPMAS), this brings internet penetration to 43 percent at the end of quarter two, compared to 38 percent the year before. Mobile subscriptions in Egypt reached 96.8 million during the same period of 2013, a 4.7 percent increase compared to the 92.4 recorded in June of the previous year. This brings the mobile penetration rate in the country to some 116 percent, compared to 113 percent a year earlier. The data confirmed Egypt's move away from landline services in favour of cellular phones, as fixed-line penetration declined to 8.5 percent in June, down from 10.7 percent the previous year, and mobile subscriptions accounted for 93 percent of total telephone service subscriptions in June 2013. Source: Ahram Online
