Mobile and tablet internet usage exceeds desktop for first time worldwide – StatCounter

Internet usage by mobile and tablet devices exceeded desktop worldwide for the first time in October according to independent web analytics company StatCounter.

Its research arm, StatCounter Global Stats finds that mobile and tablet devices accounted for 51.3% of internet usage worldwide in October compared to 48.7% by desktop.

“This should be a wake up call especially for small businesses, sole traders and professionals in Ireland and across the world to make sure that their websites are mobile friendly. Many older websites are not,” commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter.

“Mobile compatibility is increasingly important not just because of growing traffic but because Google favours mobile friendly websites for its mobile search results.” He pointed out that Google recently launched a tool where businesses can test their website mobile performance.

Despite the rapid growth of mobile devices, desktop is still the primary mode of internet usage in Ireland and mature markets such as the US and UK.

In Ireland desktop accounted for 57.6% of internet usage in October compared to 42.4% for mobile and tablet devices.

Aodhan Cullen added that the worldwide data had implications for UK business post Brexit. “UK businesses should be aware, as they look to increase trade outside the EU, that India for example has over 75% internet usage through mobile devices.”

In the UK desktop is on 55.6% with mobile and tablet on 44.4% while in the US desktop still accounts for 58% of internet usage compared to 42% for mobile and tablet.

Other individual country stats available at here.

StatCounter Global Stats data is based on over 15 billion page views per month to over 2.5 million websites.

Further information: http://gs.statcounter.com/faq