UK communications use surge continues

PC, mobile and broadband use up, but VoIP suffers a downturn

Ambrose McNevin, Computing 14 Aug 2008

UK citizens are using more communications technology than ever before with broadband, mobile and PC technology use growing rapidly, but voice over IP is losing its appeal, according to regulator Ofcom in its recent communications industry annual report.

The number of people using voice over IP fell from 20 per cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in the first quarter of 2008.

The average UK citizen spends 24 minutes per day using a PC and an average of 10 minutes talking or texting on mobile phone.

An examination of people's internet and TV use showed that TV is most popular with over three and a half hours per day spent TV watching. But viewing habits are changing rapidly as people increasingly use the internet to watch TV.

A key factor in this has been the take up of broadband. "In the past 12 months take-up of broadband through a landline grew from 52 per cent of households to 58 per cent mainly as a result of consumers upgrading from dial-up access to always-on broadband," the report says.

Nearly a third of internet users (32 per cent) watched video clips and webcasts in 2007, compared to a fifth (21 per cent) in 2006. The number of UK internet users who watched YouTube, reached 9 million in April this year, nearly 50 per cent more than a year ago.

In terms advertising spend online advertising is up by almost 40 per cent year-on-year reaching £2.8bn in 2007. For the first time, more money was spent on internet advertising than the combined advertising spending on ITV1, Channel 4, S4C and five (£2.4bn). Paid-for search advertising still dominates the internet market, up by 39 per cent during 2007 at £1.6bn. Classified advertising saw the largest increase in 2007 – up by 54 per cent to £600m while display advertising grew by 29 per cent in 2007 accounting for a further £600m of advertising spend.

Ofcom said that overall average household spend on communications was £93.63 a month in 2007.

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