The recent Cisco Broadband Survey, which includes 2,000 respondents in Saudi Arabia, has shown a shift in consumer expectations, heralding a profound transformation in the realm of Internet connectivity.
Consumers in the kingdom are reevaluating their reliance on the Internet, balancing the quest for speed and dependability with the rapidly increasing imperatives of environmental consciousness and the infiltration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into everyday life, linking devices from smart automobiles to household appliances.
Sustainability drives consumer broadband choices in Saudi Arabia
This shift has culminated in a consensus, with 91 percent of Saudi respondents now categorising broadband as ‘critical national infrastructure,’ drawing a parallel with the essentials of water and electricity, crossing EMEA averages.
A notable highlight of this transformative landscape is the ascent of sustainability as a pivotal driver of consumer choices.
A remarkable 65 percent of Saudi consumers have expressed concerns about the carbon footprint of their broadband, with the younger demographic aged 18-24 exhibiting the highest level of apprehension at 73 percent.
Moreover, an overwhelming 92 percent of respondents within the kingdom have signified their willingness to pay a premium for sustainable broadband, with nearly a quarter prepared to fork out a price premium exceeding 20 percent.
“Our survey has confirmed that consumers in Saudi Arabia are increasingly aware of the carbon footprints of technology. This is in line with KSA efforts towards a more flourishing and sustainable society and a novel approach to promoting sustainability in the country,” Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director of Cisco Saudi Arabia said.
“In today’s world, it is becoming increasingly crucial for digital transformation to work in harmony with sustainability. At Cisco, we believe that the tech industry has a unique opportunity to lead the twin transition to a digital and green future,” Faqeeh added.
As the era of IoT burgeons, the demand for bandwidth and processing power to accommodate the vast troves of data generated shows no signs of abating.
More than half of Saudi Internet users are primarily using their connections for social media engagement (58 percent), video streaming, and gaming (57 percent), and online browsing, reading, or shopping (53 percent).
This evolution has also ushered in a liking for a ‘smarter’ digital life, with respondents in Saudi Arabia increasingly integrating a spectrum of connected devices into their home Internet services, including smart lights (29 percent), home appliances (30 percent), and home entertainment systems (54 percent).
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