Home Internet Usage On The Increase, But Digital Divide Still Exists

The Government’s target of internet access for all by 2005, as outlined in the Communications White Paper (see White Paper Paves Way For Communications “Revolution”), could be achieved if the uptake rate of digital technology for home use continues as it has been. The latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that 32% of all households now have access to the internet in one form or another, compared to 26% in the last quarter and 18% for the same quarter in 1999.

Part of the reason for the growth of this figure may be that the ONS now includes means of internet access other than PCs, such as digital television, in its figures. However, the figures show that only a small percentage of households accessed the internet exclusively using technologies other than home computers.

What these figures don’t show is the widening of the so-called ‘digital divide’. More detail from the OFT report shows that access varies depending on location, age and income. The area of the country with the highest level of home access is London, where, in the survey covering the year to March 2000, 25% were found to have access, whereas in the year to September 2000 this figure had reached 34%. 30% of those in the South East of England had access by September this year and 29% in both the East of England and the West Midlands. In contrast the figure for Northern Ireland has grown from 11% for the year to March to 16% for the year to September, Wales from 15% to 20%, Scotland from 14% to 19% and the North East of England from 14% to 22%.

In terms of income, the lowest income group was shown to have a slightly higher percentage of home access than the second lowest, perhaps because of the presence of students in the lowest income group. The percentage of households with access for the lowest income group stood at just 7% for the year to September and only 5% for the second lowest group. The percentage increases steadily with each level of income until the fourth lowest group, before rising sharply with every level following, with 41% of the third highest income group enjoying access, 51% of the second highest and 62% of the highest earners.

Home internet usage is not only more common among higher earners, but is also more likely to be a young person’s pastime, as with 82% access, 16-24 year olds are the most likely to have access to the internet at home. Of 25-44 year olds 60% have access and 50% of 45-54 year olds can go online at home. There is also a slight gender divide, with 52% of men having access, compared to 39% of women.

The most popular use of the internet is email, used by 73% of people accessing the net by October 2000. This was followed by finding information about goods and services (66%) and general browsing or surfing (64%). Only 33% had used the net to buy goods or services while 22% had carried out financial activity online.

Office of National Statistics: 020 7233 9233

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