GFK Custom Research Worldwide surveyed almost 17,000 people in 17 countries in September, to establish the level of access to the internet in the various countries. 15 Western and Eastern European counties were included plus Turkey and the US.
In Western Europe, 61% of those surveyed said that they had online access from work, home, an internet café or a mobile phone.
In Eastern Europe, 59% reported having internet access.
In the US, 75% said they had online access.
In the survey results, the Netherlands and Sweden both had very high internet access levels, 91% and 86% respectively. This is a reflection of the strength of their economies and of the wealth of their residents.
The lowest results came from Italy with 39%, Romania with 36% and Bulgaria with 37%, the last two being the least affluent of EU countries. The low level in Italy may be due to the high level of communication by mobile phones there and the fact that the Italian government has not pursued high levels of internet connectivity.
42% of the Europeans said that they thought that content on the net should be free, but only 21% in the US agreed with that suggestion.
Regarding the use of the net, 13% of Western Europeans said that online shopping was the most important aspect, compared to 12% in the US and 25% in the UK who rated shopping as their number one online activity.
This very high figure for the UK seems to be combinations of the trust UK consumers have in online transactions and the bad UK weather which makes shopping without leaving home more appealing.
As the importance of online access continues to increase, the counties with the highest levels of internet usage by their population will have decided advantages over those who lag in getting people connected to the net.
We help with our Local Search facility in our UK Business Directory, by delivering prospects to the 1.6 million businesses listed, with no cost to them
Monte Huebsch, CEO
In Western Europe, 61% of those surveyed said that they had online access from work, home, an internet café or a mobile phone.
In Eastern Europe, 59% reported having internet access.
In the US, 75% said they had online access.
In the survey results, the Netherlands and Sweden both had very high internet access levels, 91% and 86% respectively. This is a reflection of the strength of their economies and of the wealth of their residents.
The lowest results came from Italy with 39%, Romania with 36% and Bulgaria with 37%, the last two being the least affluent of EU countries. The low level in Italy may be due to the high level of communication by mobile phones there and the fact that the Italian government has not pursued high levels of internet connectivity.
42% of the Europeans said that they thought that content on the net should be free, but only 21% in the US agreed with that suggestion.
Regarding the use of the net, 13% of Western Europeans said that online shopping was the most important aspect, compared to 12% in the US and 25% in the UK who rated shopping as their number one online activity.
This very high figure for the UK seems to be combinations of the trust UK consumers have in online transactions and the bad UK weather which makes shopping without leaving home more appealing.
As the importance of online access continues to increase, the counties with the highest levels of internet usage by their population will have decided advantages over those who lag in getting people connected to the net.
We help with our Local Search facility in our UK Business Directory, by delivering prospects to the 1.6 million businesses listed, with no cost to them
Monte Huebsch, CEO
