Financial Tribune - The rate of mobile Internet usage has grown 42% over four years, with the latest data putting the number at 33 million subscribers at the end of the previous fiscal that ended in March, an increase of 3.9 million.

Until 2013, only 0.8% of people (about 600,000) used Internet mobile services, prior to the introduction of 3G and 4G mobile services by the two biggest networks, IRNA reported.

Reports by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in February, showed the figures for 3G and 4G Internet users stood at a total of 27.1 million lines (34%).

The prevalence of Internet use is not restricted to mobile Internet as fixed-line broadband is becoming popular at an unprecedented pace. Now almost half of Iranian households are connected to the World Wide Web through the service.

According to data released by landline Internet service providers, there are currently 10 million active fixed-line broadband subscribers in the country, a two-fold increase since 2013, when only 5 million subscribers used landlines for Internet.

The surge in Internet use signifies that not only are more people able to access information from around the globe, but they can also use this technology for economic growth, such as creating jobs, and placing advertisements.

However, landline Internet speeds in Iran are still far behind many other countries with the average home Internet speed hovering around 1-2Mbs.