IrelandOffline 2005 Survey Press Release

damien

http://lists.ie/pipermail/media/2005/000047.html

IrelandOffline today released their 2005 survey of Internet users. A total of 1390 Internet users from every county filled in the survey. The survey questions were compiled with the assistance of those in the telecoms industry and in Government bodies. The group presented the survey to ComReg at their last meeting with the regulator and will be presenting the results to the Minister of Communications very shortly. The raw data of the survey can be downloaded from the IrelandOffline site or requested by email.

The survey asked both broadband and dialup users about their experiences of getting online. Additionally, Internet users were asked about their surfing habits, spending habits online, what consumer devices they owned and their knowledge of various technologies. (see end of this release for consumer survey data.)

The main findings of the survey were:
*Dialup users are crying out to get broadband but cannot avail of it
*Current flatrate dialup packages aren't marketed enough and aren't suitable enough for many dialup users
*Once dialup users got broadband, their usage of the Internet increased significantly.

Commenting on the dialup findings Vice Chairman John Timmons stated "It is quite apparent from our survey that those on dialup are crying out for broadband and are completely frustrated at not being able to move over to broadband." Recent ComReg data [1] shows that the majority of people still use dialup to access the Internet with only 25% of users going online with broadband. Timmons continued "More than any other factor, the lack of availability of broadband is the prime reason why Ireland is still a nation of dialup users isolated from the rest of broadband Europe"

Of those on dial-up, 51% said they did not use a flat-rate Internet product. 56% of those who were on flatrate packages exceeded their monthly allowance.

Timmons commented on the flatrate dialup findings, "According to ComReg, [1] the average monthly Internet bill is €34.20 and that dialup is still the most used method to get online. Our findings show that usage of the current flatrate dialup products is not being maximised and of those that do use them, the majority exceed their online quotas and start paying per minute again after that. We call on the Minister to issue an updated flatrate directive to ComReg to introduce a cheaper and full not partial flatrate product so those suffering dialup are at the very least not punished with bills more expensive than flatrate broadband. With the lack of progress on broadband we are going to be a dialup nation until the end of the decade, genuine flatrate dialup may at least soften the blow. This may also encourage telcos to speed up rollout of broadband instead of reaping the rewards of per minute dialup."

The other main finding of the survey showed than 75% of people with broadband spend over 20 hours a week online. 73% of those that move to broadband have increased their usage by 100% or over, with 36% of users stating that their Internet usage has increased by 500%.

Commenting on these statistics, Martin Harran stated "These two results show that the timed broadband packages introduced this summer aren't suitable for the majority who use broadband. We've seen that most consumers that use broadband will quickly outgrow the one hour a day allotted time of the timed packages. The timed element should be removed from broadband as it should for dialup to allow consumers to benefit from the Internet without facing financial penalties for each additional minute they stay online."

Some key findings of the survey included:

* Asked why they did not switch to broadband, 73% of dialup users said they didn't have broadband available to them to get it, 18% said they didn't go for broadband because of price issues and 7% said there were other factors at play for not switching.

* More than 75% of people with broadband spend over 20 hours a week online.

* For those that move to broadband 73% have increased their usage by 100% or over, with 36% of users stating that their Internet usage has increased by 500%

* Of those those on dial-up, 51% said they did not use a flat-rate Internet product. 56% of those that were on flatrate packages exceed their monthly allowance.

Full survey results are at the very end of this release.

** NOTES **


[1] http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg0586a.pdf

damien

** Detailed Findings **
How do you currently connect to the Internet?

Dial Up - 406 28.43%
ISDN - 76 5.32%
xDSL (Broadband via Telephone Line) - 656 45.94%
Wireless (Broadband via External Aerial) - 170 11.90%
Cable - 104 7.28%
WiMax - 3 0.21%
Satellite - 13 0.91%

Total Answers - 1428


What do you primarily use the internet for?
E-mail - 1279 15.38%
Business - 581 6.99%
On-Line Banking - 892 10.73%
Education / Fact Finding - 915 11.01%
Chatting Online / Instant Messaging - 730 8.78%
Software Downloads - 896 10.78%
Gaming - 516 6.21%
Music Downloads - 617 7.42%
Regular Shopping (Tesco, Amazon, CDs,etc.) - 468 5.63%
Occasional Shopping (Airline Tickets, Concerts, etc.) - 934 11.23%
Other - 486 5.85%

** Dialup Users Questions **

Do you use any flat rate product (pay a set amount for x hours of internet usage)?
No - 237 51.19%
Yes - 226 48.81%
Total Answers - 463



Which Flat rate product do you use?
UTVip XL - 47 20.80%
UTVip Lite - 10 4.42%
Direct Dial Telecom Internet 180 - 1 0.44%
eircom Anytime - 50 22.12%
eircom Flat Rate 60 - 13 5.75%
eircom Flat Rate 25 - 20 8.85%
BT Ireland Anytime - 46 20.35%
BT Ireland Flat Rate 80 - 7 3.10%
BT Ireland Flat Rate 50 - 0 0.00%
BT Ireland Flat Rate 30 - 4 1.77%
Perlico Anytime 260 - 0 0.00%
Perlico Anytime 180 - 0 0.00%
Perlico 25 - 1 0.44%
Other - 27 11.95%


Do you ever exceed your allowance of hours?
No - 96 43.44%
Yes - 125 56.56%


Which is the largest amount approx that you have exceeded your allowance?
<10 hours - 45 34.62%
10 - 20 hours - 28 21.54%
20 - 30 hours - 22 16.92%
30 - 40 hours - 8 6.15%
40 - 50 hours - 1 0.77%
>50 hours - 14 10.77%
Don't Know - 12 9.23%
Total Answers - 130

How much do you pay in total excluding line rent for internet access per month approx?
00 - 10 - 52 11.23%
11 - 20 - 68 14.69%
21 - 30 - 154 33.26%
31 - 40 - 74 15.98%
41 - 50 - 48 10.37%
51 - 60 - 19 4.10%
61 70 - 11 2.38%
71 - 80 - 13 2.81%
81 - 90 - 4 0.86%
91 - 100 - 2 0.43%
>100 - 18 3.89%
Total Answers - 463



Do concerns about internet safety have any bearing on your broadband purchase decision?
No - 437 94.38%
Yes - 26 5.62%
Total Answers - 463



What is the highest price point (excluding line rent) that would cause you to move to broadband?
>40 Euro per month - 121 26.13%
35 - 39 Euro per month - 76 16.41%
30 - 34 Euro per month - 68 14.69%
25 - 29 Euro per month - 63 13.61%
20 - 24 Euro per month - 68 14.69%
15 - 19 Euro per month - 67 14.47%
Total Answers - 463

Have you tried Broadband?
No - 115 24.84%
Yes - 348 75.16%
Total Answers - 463



When you tried broadband how would you rate your experience?
Good - 301 86.49%
Okay - 44 12.64%
Bad - 3 0.86%
Total Answers - 348

Is line rent a factor in your decisions about broadband?
Great extent - 101 21.81%
Moderate extent - 202 43.63%
Not at all - 160 34.56%
Total Answers - 463


** Questions for Broadband Customers **

How much are you currently paying for your broadband package
<20 - 23 2.52%
21 - 30 - 141 15.48%
31 - 40 - 317 34.80%
41 - 50 - 240 26.34%
51 - 60 - 101 11.09%
61 - 70 - 14 1.54%
71 - 80 - 15 1.65%
81 - 90 - 9 0.99%
91 - 100 - 16 1.76%
100 - 150 - 17 1.87%
151 - 200 - 7 0.77%
200 - 300 - 4 0.44%
>300 - 7 0.77%
Total Answers - 911


Since getting broadband how much has your internet usage increased?
0% - 25 2.76%
10% - 22 2.43%
25% - 66 7.28%
50% - 133 14.66%
100% - 175 19.29%
200% - 154 16.98%
500% - 332 36.60%
Total Answers - 907



If you could get broadband without using a telephone line would you disconnect your telephone line to save paying the line rent, instead using your mobile or VoIP to make telephone calls?

No - 291 32.08%
Yes - 616 67.92%
Total Answers - 907

** Questions for Dialup and Broadband users **

Are you aware of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)?
No - 275 19.77%
Yes - 1116 80.23%
Total Answers - 1391


** Consumer Questions **

Does you company have a teleworking policy?
No - 678 60.70%
Yes - 439 39.30%


If yes, would you or do you avail of teleworking?
No - 307 35.91%
Yes - 548 64.09%


If yes, would your or does your company contribute a PC?
No - 394 53.17%
Yes - 347 46.83%


Do you download favourite tv shows
No - 775 60.55%
Yes - 505 39.45%


Do you download movie trailers
No - 651 50.62%
Yes - 635 49.38%


Do you download sporting events
No - 1070 85.60%
Yes - 180 14.40%


Do you download electronic books
No - 724 56.56%
Yes - 556 43.44%


Do you download audio books?
No - 999 79.60%
Yes - 256 20.40%


Do you have a portable digital music player?
No - 363 28.14%
Yes - 927 71.86%


Do you have a digital still camera?
No - 205 15.82%
Yes - 1091 84.18%


Do you have a digital cam corder?
No - 870 69.54%
Yes - 381 30.46%


Do you have a colour photo printer?
No - 470 36.60%
Yes - 814 63.40%

Do you have have a credit card?
No - 224 17.27%
Yes - 1073 82.73%


Have you used Skype?
No - 716 55.08%
Yes - 584 44.92%

Have you used VoIP?
No - 677 52.08%
Yes - 623 47.92%

Have you used Instant Messaging?
No - 169 12.92%
Yes - 1139 87.08%

Do you read blogs?
No - 440 33.92%
Yes - 857 66.08%

Have you listened to podcasts?
No - 950 74.10%
Yes - 332 25.90%

Have you used online toddlers games/education?
No - 999 77.80%
Yes - 285 22.20%

Have you used internet discounts schemes (pigsback etc.)?
No - 706 54.77%
Yes - 583 45.23%


What percentage of emails you receive are SPAM (unsolicited junk mail) that you are aware of?
<1% - 207 15.62%
10% - 347 26.19%
30% - 247 18.64%
50% - 186 14.04%
70% - 210 15.85%
>90% - 128 9.66%

The Clown Man

This is currently on the front page of RTE.ie in the business section.

Fair play lads.

Good coverage and good work.

damien

The Inquirer

eircomtribunal

The Reg

Ireland gagging for affordable broadband

P.

govinda

Excellent work, congrats to all involved!

damien

Well done to JWT for putting the survey together and for everyone here, on the membership mailing list and on boards.ie who filled out the survey.

paulm17781

I'm sure McRedmond will be on the news saying how you bent the figures to suit yourselves and how the actual figure when you exclude all the pairgains and distance dependant lines and take into account the amount of people who own a computer and have broadband the penetration is actually 100% and you were wrong.

I however think you did a great job.

OfflerCrocGod

Two thumbs up

cgarvey

Press release and raw data now online...

http://www.irelandoffline.org/home/article.php?story=20051127131419178