ICT usage in households, 2005, 2nd quarter

ADSL, and other xDSL technologies, are now the most common connection to the Internet in Norway. 37 per cent had ADSL by the second quarter of 2005.

Generally, families with children and families with high incomes have access to information and communication technology (ICT) more often than others. Younger people and people with higher education do also have access to ICT more often than others. While 63 per cent of the households with a gross income above NOK 600 000 had broadband connection. Only 30 per cent of the households with income below NOK 200 000 had broadband. The equivalent numbers for accessing a PC was 97 and 48 per cent.

83 per cent of the Norwegian population had used a PC in the three last months - 58 per cent used a PC once a day. The portion of men that had used a PC was higher than the portion of women, and the portion of people with higher education was higher than people with low education.

More Internet shopping

80 per cent of the population had used the Internet over the last three months. The Internet was used by 58 per cent on a daily basis. The portion of men that had used the Internet was higher than the portion of women, and men had also used the Internet more frequently than women.

The purpose of using the Internet was searching for information or use of online services. 90 per cent used the Internet for communication. Internet shopping was more popular than last year, 80 per cent used the Internet for purchase/sale of goods and services.

Travels and holiday accommodations were among the most popular Internet purchases. 60 per cent of the people that had made purchases on the Internet had bought or ordered travels or holiday accommodations. Purchasing tickets, books, movies and music was also popular.

Less computer virus problems

28 per cent of the Internet users encountered problems with computer virus during the last 12 months (33 per cent in 2004). 68 per cent of the Internet users had updated a virus-checking program the last three months (56 per cent in 2004). It seems like more security precautions have been taken during the past year. Only 1 per cent of the Internet users had problems with fraudulent payment card use, and 3 per cent encountered abuse of personal information due to Internet use.

Many other European countries produce statistics about ICT usage in households in cooperation with EUs statistical office Eurostat. The plan for this survey is adapted to Eurostat guidelines. Internationally comparable figures can be found here.

For more information about the survey, see About the statistics

Tables:

• Table 1 Percentage with access to different ICT, by family type and household income. 2nd quarter 2005
• Table 2 Percentage with different kinds of Internet subscriptions, by family type, household income, sex, age, education and employment situation. 2005
• Table 3 Use of computers the last 3 months, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2005. Per cent
• Table 4 Percentage of PC users that has carried out certain PC related activities, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2005
• Table 5 Use of the Internet, frequency and location of use last 3 months. Percentage of population, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2005
• Table 6 Purpose and nature of activities on the Internet the last 3 months. Percentage of Internet users the last 3 months, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2005
• Table 7 Types of goods and services bought or ordered over the Internet for private use, the last 12 months, by sex and age. 2005. Per cent
• Table 8 Percentage of Internet users having encountered security problems and the percentage with updated virus checking program, by sex, age, education and employment situation. 2005