Opera announced today that its iOS user base in Europe has grown by up to five times since the Digital Markets Act (DMA) 2024 came into effect. Opera said its daily active iOS users in Europe surged 88% in the 12 months to October this year, driven by DMA policies and other factors.
One of the key initiatives of the DMA is the browser selection screen that will pop up when European users are setting up on a new device (it will also appear in certain other circumstances). This new regulation led to a 57% jump in overall users for the first 12 months, with active users in major markets such as France increasing fivefold since the implementation of the DMA.
Jørgen Arnesen, Executive Vice President of Opera Mobile, said in announcing the latest figures:
"Fifteen years ago, Opera launched the first non-Safari alternative browser for iPhone. After more than a decade of single-digit growth, two years ago we saw the opportunity to reinvent the browser and bring Opera features such as free VPN to iOS users. Since then, with continued investment in unique features, a more level playing field in Europe, and strong marketing efforts, Opera has achieved the strongest product growth in recent years."
Currently, Opera is listed on the browser selection pages of 27 European countries for all DMA requirements. The company emphasized that the growth of the European market is not only due to the DMA policy, but also to its own promotion of built-in VPN and innovative AI and other functions.