E-Communications Household Survey

Special Eurobarometer 293
E uropean
Commission

E-Communications
Household Survey
Fieldwork November – December 2007
Publication June 2008

Special Eurobarometer 293 / Wave 68.2 – TNS opinion & social

Report

T his survey was requested by Directorate-General for the Information Society and Media
coordinated by Directorate-General for Communication
T his document does notrepresent the point of view of the European Commission.
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.

SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER 274

“E-communications household survey”

Special EUROBAROMETER 293

“E-Communications Household Survey”

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 2
1.SNAPSHOTS AND MAIN FINDINGS ...................................................... 4
2. TELEPHONE ACCESS ............................................................................ 8
2.1 Overall telephone access ................................................................. 8
2.2 Households with fixed and mobile telephone access........................... 12
2.3 Households withouttelephone access .............................................. 15
2.4 Fixed telephony............................................................................ 16
2.4.1 Households having at least one fixed telephone line ..................... 16
2.4.2 Households having only fixed telephone access............................ 19
2.4.3 Reasons for not having any fixed telephone lines......................... 21
2.4.4 Keeping expenditure under control and the quality of fixed telephony
.................................................................................................... 22
2.5 Mobile telephony .......................................................................... 28
2.5.1 Households having at least one mobile telephone......................... 28
2.5.2 Householdshaving only mobile phone access .............................. 31
2.5.3 Mobile telephone access: contract versus pre-paid ....................... 34
2.5.4 Control of expenditure and quality of mobile phone services .......... 36
2.6 Alternative means of telephony ...................................................... 43
2.6.1 Public payphones.................................................................... 43
2.6.2 Calling over the Internet .......................................................... 46
2.7 Use of phone directories ................................................................ 47
3. COMPUTERS AND INTERNET ........................................................... 49
3.1. Personal computers .....................................................................49
3.1.1 Households with at least one computer....................................... 49
3.1.2 Wifi modem or router for wireless Internet.................................. 52
3.2. Internet access and means of access.............................................. 54
3.2.1 Overall internet access ............................................................. 54
3.2.2 Means ofAccess...................................................................... 56
3.2.2.1 Broadband Internet access ............................................. 56
3.2.2.2 Narrowband Internet access ........................................... 59
3.2.2.3 Use of different types of Internet access........................... 62
3.2.2.4 Switching to broadband for narrowband users ................... 67
3.3Control of expenditure and quality of Internet services....................... 68
3.4 Households without Internet access ................................................ 75
4. TELEVISION .................................................................................... 77
4.1. Overall access to television ........................................................... 77
4.2. Means of reception...