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UK internet usage figures continue to rise
IT News |
31/08/2010
Almost three-quarters of UK households now have access to the world wide web, a new report has indicated.
Research conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that 19.2 million homes are hooked up to the internet (73 per cent).
This represented an increase on the 18.31 million households found to be online by the ONS in 2009.
According to the latest study, 30.1 million UK adults now access the internet on a daily basis to conduct tasks such as emailing, social networking, researching and online shopping.
However 9.2 million UK adults have still never used the internet, with the majority of these people aged over 65.
Some 97 per cent of adult consumers with formal qualifications have accessed the web, although the ONS reports that 48 per cent of those without have never logged on.
Mark Williams, a spokesperson for the ONS, said a significant increase in the number of people using the internet has been witnessed since 2006.
"Usage is closely linked with a number of socio-economic and demographic indicators with those less educated and on lower incomes less likely to access the web," he stated.
"We have also seen changes in the way people connect and in the frequency of connection, with 31 per cent of Internet users connecting via a mobile phone in 2010 compared to 23 per cent in 2009. The use of Wi-Fi hotspots continued to rise with 2.7 million people using wireless hotspots at locations such as cafes, restaurants, and hotels."
Earlier this month, Ofcom reported that the average person now spends 45 per cent of their waking hours watching TV, using their mobile phone, browsing the internet and networking online.
Posted by Jon Aspinell
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