According to Eurostat data released on Friday, 52% of the EU25 households had access to the Internet in the first quarter of 2006 compared to 48% in the corresponding period of 2005, while 32% had a broadband connection against 23% in the first quarter of 2005. Same figures revealed that the highest proportions of households with Internet access were registered in the Netherlands (80%), Denmark (79%), Sweden (77%) and Luxembourg (70%). On the other hand, the lowest levels were seen in Greece (23%), Slovakia (27%), Hungary (32%), Lithuania (35%) and Portugal (35%). The use of broadband connection in householders was higher in the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Sweden and lower in Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus and Ireland.

Use of Internet in enterprises

According to Eurostat, “at the beginning of 2006, 94% of enterprises with at least 10 persons employed had access to the internet (91% at the beginning of 2005)”. The highest proportions of enterprises with Internet access were recorded in Finland (99%), Denmark (98%), Austria (98%) and the Netherlands (97%). The lowest were seen in Latvia (80%), Cyprus (86%), Lithuania (88%) and Poland (89%).

The rate of enterprises with broadband connection in the first quarter of 2006 stood at 75% against 63% last year. The proportion of individuals using the Internet was observed in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland. The lowest performance was observed in Poland, Cyprus, Lithuania and Latvia.

In the first quarter of 2006, 47% of the individuals used the Internet at least once a week. Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland had the best performance, while Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Portugal had the worst.