Social networking on the rise in NI
August 4, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
Use of social networking sites has doubled across the region since 2008 and according to Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report, half of people now access them regularly.
Ofcom Northern Ireland director Jonathan Rose said:
“Northern Ireland has caught up and is now on a par with the UK in terms of social networking. It’s still the most popular use of the internet.”
Since 2008, broadband penetration in Northern Ireland has risen to 75%, making the region second only to England among the UK regions for take-up.
The 5% increase from last year reflects increasing speeds, with the roll-out of super-fast broadband across the region and Belfast in particular enjoying lightning speeds.
Customers are going online for everyday needs and tasks, with half watching television, video or checking bank accounts, and a third searching for information on health-related issues.
Mr Rose said there is a shift in how social networking is used.
“It’s still the most popular use of the internet, but there’s a slight flattening out of the people accessing them from their home broadband connection and they’re starting to access it from their mobile phones or smart phones.”
Meanwhile the report also highlights around 10% of homes here are still relying on the analogue TV signal to watch shows.
The digital switchover is due to happen next year – Northern Ireland one of the last areas in the UK to go fully digital – and for those who are not prepared, they will be left looking at a television screens.
In urban areas less than eight percent of homes are still using the analogue signal, but in the countryside it is almost double that figure, at 15%.
Michael Wilson is Managing Director of UTV. He said he is not surprised at the figure.
“Northern Ireland is in no worse a position than other UK regions were prior to the education process.
“We will be telling all our analogue audience on UTV that the signals will be switched off. They’ll be getting those messages on screen, so if you’re already watching digital you won’t get the message.
“No member of the analogue audience will be unaware that the signal will be going, so I think the figure of 10% is exactly where we would expect to be with 18 months to go before the digital switchover.”
© UTV News
