SOCIAL media sites were the most popular form of web activity in Bahrain last year, according to a survey.

This was followed by VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services such as Skype and Facetime.

Insights into how and where people used such services are included in a Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) report released 
yesterday.

It is based on 1,196  interviews and found 100pc of respondents had access to a mobile phone, 89pc had Internet access at home and only 12pc had a fixed line phone service.

The survey noted an increase in the use of VoIP services from 39pc in 2014 to 44pc last year.

However, social networking was the main Internet activity of 74pc of respondents.

The survey found that last year 63pc of respondents used mobile data to access the Internet, while 53pc used mobile broadband via USB or a router.

Meanwhile, the average volume of calls made from one fixed line to another decreased from 13 calls per week in 2014 to 11 calls per week last year.

The average number of fixed line calls to mobiles decreased from 22 per week to 20 over the same period, while the average number of text messages sent per week decreased from 20 in 2011 to just two last year. 

Sixty per cent of international calls were made using mobile phone last year, 34pc through smart phone applications and 6pc by other means.

Survey

India was the top destination for overseas calls, followed by the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Ninety-five per cent of respondents said they used WhatsApp to communicate with family and friends, while 92pc of respondents were satisfied with their overall Internet service.

“Overall satisfaction with Internet service is high in the 2015 survey,” stated the survey.

The main suggestions for improvement provided by respondents was a reduction in charges (63pc) and quality of Internet services (61pc).