Use of ICT at Home
2 in 3 UK homes have digital TV service
Households with selected ICT, UK
Digital technology is relatively new, yet it is already approaching the near universal ownership levels of older technologies. Growth in DVD player ownership has been rapid in recent years, with the proportion of UK households owning one rising by one-and-a-half-times between 2002/03 and 2005/06 to 79 per cent. In 2005/06, 88 per cent of UK households had a CD player and 79 per cent a mobile phone. In April to June 2006, 26 per cent of people aged 15 and over owned an MP3 player.
In January to April 2006, 56 per cent of households in Great Britain had a desktop computer, 30 per cent had a portable or laptop computer, and 7 per cent had a handheld computer. During this period, 87 per cent of people aged 16 to 30 had used a computer in the previous three months compared with 45 per cent of those aged 50 and over.
There are a range of functions available on mobile phones and these are continually being developed. By July 2005, 66 per cent of adults in Great Britain had sent a text message and 68 per cent had received one, while 28 per cent had sent a picture or photo using their mobile phone and 27 per cent had received one. In January to April 2006, 30 per cent of households possessed a mobile phone that could access the Internet, up from 20 per cent in April 2003.
There is a strong link between the age of a mobile phone user and the reason for owning a mobile phone. Adults aged 55 and over are most likely to have a mobile phone for use in an emergency; those aged under 25 are most likely to have a mobile phone to text their friends and family. In 2005, 94 per cent of adults aged from 16 to 24 had sent a text message compared with 17 per cent of those aged 65 and over.
The proportion of households that receive a digital television service has increased, from 19 per cent in 1996/97 to 65 per cent in 2005/06. Nowadays there are a number of interactive services available on digital television. In 2005, 33 per cent of adults with a television in their home could take part in game shows, although only 7 per cent actually did. While 28 per cent had the facility to buy products through shopping channels, only 5 per cent chose to do so.
Household access to various ICT, Jan to Apr 2006, GB
There is a considerable overlap in the ownership of information and communication technology (ICT). From January to April 2006, almost one-half (45 per cent) of households received a digital television service, as well as owning a mobile phone and having access to the Internet. However, one in twelve (8 per cent) did not have access to any of these ICT capabilities.
Sources: Family Expenditure Survey (until 2001/02) and Expenditure and Food Survey (2001/02 onwards), Office for National Statistics; Radio Joint Audience Research Limited (RAJAR); Omnibus Survey, Office for National Statistics; 2006 Media Literacy Audit, Ofcom
Notes:
Expenditure and Food Survey data are based on weighted data. Data for 1998/99 onwards include children's expenditure.
Digital television service includes digital, satellite and cable receivers.
Omnibus Survey data for 2006 were collected in January, February and April.
Interviews for the 2006 Media Literacy Audit were conducted between June and August 2005.
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