Page 72 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

GCC Smartphone Shipments Rise 6.3% to 5.15 Mln Units in Q4

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have the about by nationalization programs,” 6.8 percent after the Chinese phone maker
biggest appetite for new devices in the Balachandran added. Samsung continues expanded its distribution network in the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, to lead the pack during the last quarter of region and the release of its latest products,
with approximately 8 out of 10 smartphone 2019, accounting for 40.6 percent of the including the Note 8, enjoyed positive
shipments landing in the two countries, the devices shipped to the region. Samsung’s consumer feedback. The total shipment of
latest data showed. Mobile phone makers, share of the market, however, was down Huawei devices to the region posted a 1.7
including Samsung, Apple and Huawei, 5.1 percentage points on the previous percent decline over the previous quarter,
among others, shipped a total of 5.15 million quarter due to “supply chain shortages a huge improvement compared to the 24.3
units to all GCC states during the fourth in the channel” and “exceptionally strong percent decline in the last quarter of 2018.
quarter of 2019, up 6.3 percent compared performance of Apple and Xiaomi. The “Given the challenges facing Huawei, the
to the previous quarter, according to American and Chinese brands saw their vendor performed exceptionally well in Q4
International Data Corporation (IDC). Out smartphone shipments to the GGC rise by 2019,” said Balachandran. The region has
of the total number of phones shipped to 22.6 percent and 51.4 percent, respectively one of the world’s highest mobile phone
the region, more than 75 percent landed during the last quarter. “Demand for Apple’s penetration rates, where around 77 percent
in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, making the newly released iPhone 11 series exceeded of the population on average are mobile
two countries the biggest consumers all previous market predictions,” said subscribers as of mid-2018, according to
of smartphones. Total shipments to the Ramazan Yavuz, senior research manager a report by GSMA Intelligence.
UAE also increased by 9.9 percent, while at IDC. Yavuz noted that Xiaomi increased
Saudi Arabia posted a 6.7 percent growth. its share of the GCC smartphone market to
“Together, these two countries account
for more than [three quarters] of the GCC
smartphone market,” the global technology
research and consulting firm said in a
released report. Demand for smartphones
in most parts of the region also increased,
with Bahrain posting a 9.6 percent jump
in shipments, and Kuwait and Qatar
registering a growth of 2.1 percent and 3
percent, respectively. Oman was the only
Gulf market to suffer a decline in demand,
with smartphone shipments falling 2.2
percent over the quarter. According to
Akash Balachandran, senior analyst at IDC,
the increase in shipments in some of the
smaller Gulf markets is a positive sign for
the region, “particularly as it comes after
long periods of contraction.” “Previously,
shipments had been constrained in these
markets by the introduction of new levies
and taxes, shifting government policies
and challenging job conditions brought

University to Promote Digital Transformation in Pakistan

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will Tuesday. Under the proposed arrangement, the signing of the agreement, said Tanwir
enter into cooperative partnership with the Oracle Corporation will provide three Ahmed, head of Digital Transformation
the world leading software company, systems that are Oracle PeopleSoft Project Management Office. The
the Oracle Corporation, USA to promote Campus management system, enterprise cooperative arrangement with the World's
and strengthen its digital transformation resource planning system and enterprise leading organizations is the part of
system. The two sides are scheduled planning and budgeting. The AIOU will University's new initiatives of the Vice
to sign an agreement to this effect here formally incorporate these three systems in Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia-Ul-Qayyum to
on Wednesday, said a press release on its operation and e-governance, following digitalize its academic and management

72 MARCH 2020