Around one in four EU households have a broadband internet connection, according to a recent European Commission study - Special Eurobarometer 249 – E-Communications Household Survey. The objective of the study was to get a picture of the current EU situation as far as the population’s access to electronic communications is concerned.
Broadband penetration rates were found to be highest among larger households – 34% in households with four or more members as opposed to 12% in single-person households. Meanwhile it was found that 40% of those who had narrowband internet access were not intending to switch to broadband, saying that they didn’t use the internet enough to make justify the change.
When it comes to telephone services, the mobile phone was found to be more and more popular with young Europeans. This preference for mobile over fixed-line telephones was seen in around 58% of EU households with one person aged between 15 and 29. However, around 61% of all Europeans still have a fixed-line connection, with only 18 percents choosing to rely exclusively on their mobile.
The results for Portugal show that 82% of the Portuguese population don’t have internet access at home compared to the EU average of 59%, while, of those who did have an internet connection, 71% had broadband.
Around 39% of the Portuguese population was found to have both mobile and fixed-line phones, while 38% had a mobile only and 14% a fixed-line phone only.
The study, which was carried out in order to make a further contribution to the public debate on the revision of electronic communication regulatory framework, is based on data compiled between 7 December 2005 and 11 January 2006.
Consult:
- Special Eurobarometer 249 - E-Communications Household Survey, European Commission, July 2006 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=395824
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Broadband area https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=177623
- Information society https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=118259
- Telephone Service at a Fixed Location and Universal Service https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=2995
