ComReg says most people use internet

For the first time, a majority of Irish people are using the internet, a new survey has established.

Also for the first time, a clear majority of consumers say they have a computer at home, according to the research carried out for the communications regulator ComReg. One-third use their computer daily and over 40 per cent use it several times a week.

While ComReg said yesterday that it was encouraged by the trends, Ireland continues to lag behind many of its European neighbours for computer and internet usage. Its research of over 1,000 people reveals major gaps in technology take-up between different classes and age groups. Two-thirds of higher income groups have a computer at home, compared to just one-third among lower income groups. Over 61 per cent of 15- to 25-year-olds have a computer, compared to just 13 per cent of pensioners.

The better off are also twice as likely to have a home internet connection, and 15- to 24-year-olds are almost five times as likely to have one as the over-65s. Older people told researchers that they had no need for the internet, while younger respondents cited cost as a reason for not using the technology.

Broadband take-up is increasing steadily; it now accounts for almost one-half of all home internet connections. "This is a particularly encouraging trend, and one we'd like to see developing further into the future," a ComReg spokesman commented.

However, access to broadband remains a significant problem. One-third of those with a dial-up connection to the internet said they had tried to get broadband but were told it wasn't available in their area. This figure rises to 42 per cent in Connacht/Ulster.

Home (72 per cent) and work (34 per cent) are the most popular locations for using the internet. Just 8 per cent of respondents said they visited internet cafes, while 5 per cent logged on in their local library.

Just one person in five uses the internet for shopping or banking, though this represents a big increase over the past year. General entertainment, downloading and games are all increasing in popularity, but the main uses people have for the internet are e-mails, research and "general browsing".

The number of mobile phones in the country first exceeded fixed lines two years ago, but the gap is growing more pronounced. Some 87 per cent of people now have mobiles, while fixed-line penetration remains unchanged at 72 per cent.

One in 10 phone subscribers complained about service in the previous year. For fixed lines, most complaints were about line faults, followed by the cost of service and billing errors. Among mobile users, one-third of complaints were about poor signals.

On average, we spend about €50 a month on fixed-line phones, and about the same again on our mobiles. Spending is higher among younger consumers. There is little evidence yet that phone users are prepared to ditch their fixed lines in favour of mobiles. Just one in five said their mobile phone could be considered a substitute for a fixed line.

However, fixed lines are preferred for saving money, being more comfortable, offering better line quality and because of fears over emissions from mobile phones.

Eircom still dominates the provision of fixed lines, with over three-quarters of the market. The company also captures three-quarters of calls for directory inquiries, and a similar proportion of home internet provision.

In the mobile phone market, Vodafone has over half the market. O2 has 35 per cent and Meteor 14 per cent.