ICT usage in households, 2012, 2nd quarter

Access to ICT at home

Mobile broadband has increased rapidly in the last three years. In total, 48 per cent of households have access to mobile broadband in the 2nd quarter of 2012, an increase from 34 per cent in 2011. Most of these people also have access to a fixed broadband connection at home. The percentage of households with only mobile broadband has increased to 8 per cent.

Almost all households with children and households with incomes above NOK 600 000 have access to a computer and the Internet via a broadband connection at home. Ten per cent of households without children and 18 per cent of households with an income below NOK 200 000 are still without an Internet connection at home.

In total, 4 per cent of the Norwegian population aged 16-74 years have no access to the Internet as of the 2nd quarter of 2012. This group mainly consists of people aged over 64 years. Eighteen per cent of people aged between 65 and 74 have no access to the Internet. Meanwhile, the corresponding figure for people aged between 75 and 79 is 40 per cent, a reduction from 60 per cent last year.

If Internet connections are sorted by quality of technology, we find that 17 per cent have a fibre connection in the 2nd quarter of 2012. An additional 25 per cent have access via a cable TV connection. Thirty-four per cent have a DSL line as the best connection and only 2 per cent have a radio or satellite link. The 8 per cent with a mobile broadband connection only are evenly divided between mobile phone users and people with a laptop computer or similar device with a card or USB key to connect to the mobile phone network.

Use of social media

The share of the Norwegian population that has participated in social networks over the Internet during the last three months has increased from 59 to 63 per cent. The increase is largest among women and the older age groups. There is a decline in social networking in the age group 25-34 years, from 87 to 82 per cent.

Use of computers and the Internet

A total of 95 per cent of the population have used a computer during the last three months. The frequencies of computer use between women and men are quite close. While almost everyone under 55 years has used a computer during the last three months, the corresponding figure for people aged between 65 and 74 years was 74 per cent, an increase from 67 per cent last year.

We find the same tendency in the figures for Internet use in the last three months. Almost everyone in the age groups younger than 65 years is using the Internet and the increase has come in the older age groups.

Activities over the Internet

Many people used the Internet to read online newspapers and to search for information on, for example, goods, services, travel, accommodation etc. in the last 3 months.

The share of the population that sold goods or services has increased from 24 to 28 per cent during the last year. Internet banking is also among the most important activities over the Internet, which is utilised by 86 per cent of the population as of the 2nd quarter of 2012.

Use of e-commerce

Buying and ordering goods or services for private use over the Internet is becoming increasingly popular. The total share of the population that has done e-commerce during the last 12 months has increased to 76 per cent. About 7 in 10 Internet traders have bought or booked travel or holiday accommodation.

The percentage of men buying films, music, computer software and hardware, electronic equipment and telecommunication services is generally higher than the percentage of women; while women prefer to order books, magazines, clothes and sports goods over the Internet.

Use of e-Government

Seventy-six per cent of Internet users have interacted with public authorities over the Internet in order to obtain information during the last 12 months. About 6 in 10 Internet users downloaded official forms and/or sent completed forms to public authorities.

For more information about the survey, please refer to About the statistics.

Tables:

• Table 1 Percentage with access to different ICT, by household type and household income. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 2 Percentage with Internet connections at home by most advantaged technology, by household type, household income, sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 3 Use of computers the last 3 months, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012. Per cent
• Table 4 PC related aktivites carried out. Percentage of PC users, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 5 Use of the Internet last 3 months. Percentage of population, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter 2012
• Table 6 Purpose and nature of activities related to communication, access to information and entertainment on the Internet the last 3 months. Percentage of population, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 7 Purpose and nature of activities related to creativity, e-health and other services on the Internet the last 3 months. Percentage of population, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 8 Percentage of Internet users using e-Government, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 9 Reasons for not sending filled-in forms to public authorities. Percentage of those who did not send such forms, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012
• Table 10 Part 1. Types of goods and services bought or ordered over the Internet for private use, the last 12 months, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012. Per cent
• Table 11 Types of goods and services bought or ordered over the Internet for private use, the last 12 months, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2nd quarter of 2012. Per cent