The GfK Connected Consumer Index is a ranking of 78 countries and eight world regions that provides comparison of how highly connected each population is. The index covers several different device types (smartphone, tablet, mobile PC, desktop PC, wearables, smart TV, TV set-top box, videogame console, e-reader, connected car and smart home), together with trends over the last five years.
Over last two years, Hong Kong and North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico) reportedly are holding steady as having the world’s top two most highly connected populations. However, people in the United Arab Emirates are fast closing in on that lead, according to the index, jumping from eighth place in 2015 to a forecasted third place this year.
“We are seeing some macro trend increases in connectivity across all countries. For high growth markets, especially across the Middle East, Africa and emerging APAC, the dominant trend remains smartphone adoption,” Kevin Walsh, director of trends and forecasting at GfK, says. “This is the primary device — and often the first device — for consumers to connect to data services. This trend is likely to remain dominant for the next two to three years as pricing reductions means over one billion consumers will be able to afford to connect with a personal device for the first time.”
Walsh adds that for developed markets, primarily Western Europe and North America, the growth drivers have already moved to the next wave of consumer connectivity. “Wearables are leading the way, together with connected cars — and both these are providing new consumer benefits. Smart home technology is an equally significant opportunity, but expected to be slower and steadier in terms of the consumer adoption curve,” he concludes.