This study set out to contribute to a better understanding of the current use of mobile Internet, whether by using a mobile phone or USB modem (stick). Fixed Internet access was also studied, since it was expected that its usage together with the use of a mobile access could affect the usage of the mobile access, compared to when the user has mobile access alone.
It was found that the exclusive use of one type of access is more frequent among users with fixed Internet access.
It was also established that when users have both fixed access and mobile access to the Internet (whether by USB modem and or by mobile phone) they tend to display a higher frequency of daily access from the fixed access than from the mobile access(es).
When satisfaction levels were considered, respondents with fixed access were found to be more satisfied with the service than mobile access users, whether by USB modem or by mobile phone.
Price was the characteristic drawing the lowest level of satisfaction, even though it can still be considered good (3 points on a growing scale of satisfaction, from 1 to 4). It was found that satisfaction with the price of mobile services decreased when the user also has a fixed access, while the satisfaction with fixed access increases when the user also has one or more mobile Internet accesses.
Within the set of users that had Internet when the survey was carried out, there was a higher withdrawal from USB modem accesses than from fixed accesses or mobile phone accesses. The intention to give up the current Internet access in the future or its potential replacement by other means of access is also higher in respondents with USB modem and lower in respondents whit fixed access, and a relation was found between the intention to give up the access and the satisfaction level related to it.
Offering mobility, USB modem mobile offerings, given their technical characteristics, have lesser downstream speeds and lower subscribed speeds than fixed access offers, a situation that users perceive. Furthermore, fixed access is more often included in a services package, under the same conditions, such as traffic and speed, than the USB modem access. Nonetheless, mobility seems to be a relevant factor for a fraction of users, even if it is not possible to quantify this share with precision.
It was found that network coverage is more relevant to choosing the provider of USB modem services in 'NC' municipalities than in 'C' municipalities. There are also differences between 'C' municipalities and 'NC' municipalities in regard to the activities carried out from fixed accesses and from USB modem ones - among users exclusively with USB modem access there is a higher frequency of daily access to movies, series or to listen to music in the 'C' municipalities than in 'NC' municipalities, while in users using fixed access exclusively no major differences were found between the frequency of access to the activities engaged in. No differences were found regarding the longevity and frequency of the Internet access using the different means of access in 'C' and 'NC' municipalities, either in users exclusively with USB modem or those exclusively with fixed Internet.
Having analyzed this study's questions, others are raised, such as the fact that there is a higher daily usage of fixed access when the respondent also has mobile accesses, especially via USB modem, and the reasons for using a fixed access instead of a USB modem access. The analysis of the duration of the Internet connections is also opportune in order to distinguish the different mobile access usages by USB modem and mobile phone, as well as to understand the meaning of “always on” in the case of mobile phone Internet users. Another question is related to the reasons why some individuals choose the USB modem as a means of access when they only use this access at home, trying to find out, among other things, if there is a binding contract clause to explain this situation or if it is a result of the way mobility is valued.
Continuation of the study on these matters may contribute to a better understanding of the type of relationship between means of access, particularly the forms of complementarity and/or replaceability between fixed broadband and mobile broadband, especially, and in accordance with this survey's results, from the perspective of fixed access by USB modem.
Finally it is important to follow-up the evolution in the usage of mobile broadband in Portugal given the expansion of smartphone-type terminals, and particularly considering future 4G offerings, whose provision at the level of retail offerings is fast approaching.
