The mobile industry in the Arab States has grown faster than the global average over the last five years. According to the GSMA, unique mobile subscribers grew by a CAGR of 9.5 per cent between 2008 and 2013, compared to a global average growth of 8.2 per cent; total mobile connections grew by 13.2 per cent annually over the same period, compared to an 11 per cent growth rate globally. More than half of the population across the Arab States of the Middle East and North Africa are now subscribed to a mobile service, presenting the region with a unique opportunity to use mobile technology to drive social and economic growth. According to the report, there were 195 million unique mobile subscribers in the region at the end of 2013, a penetration rate of 53 per cent of the total population. Total mobile connections in the region stood at 404 million at year-end. Report