It said that the percentage of households with access to tablets reached 45.9% in 2017 compared with 40.3% in 2016. An increase has been recorded in the percentage of households that own a laptop computer from 66.3% in 2016 to 69.2% in 2017.

Furthermore, 94.9% of households with dependent children own a computer whereas the corresponding percentage of households without dependent children stands at 68.5%.

The main reasons for not having internet access at home were the lack of skills — 63% of all households that do not have access —  and the absence of need, 62.2%.

The survey showed that 79.5% usesthe internet at least once a week. Almost all persons aged 16 – 24 98.2% use the internet at least once a week. This percentage drops to 33.9% among individuals aged 65 and 74, but appears to have increased compared with 26.4% in 2016. Highly educated persons, 96.8%, use the internet more frequently than persons of lower education, 48.8%.

During the first quarter of 2017, internet use rose to 80.7% compared with 75.9% in 2016.

The most popular internet activities were reading online news/newspapers/magazines, 79.9%, participating in social networks, 78.1%, finding information about goods and services, 76.1%, seeking health-related information, 71.8%, and making phone calls or video calls (via webcam) over the internet, 70.0%.

In addition, 84.6% of the persons that used the Internet in the first quarter of 2017, used their mobile phone or smart phone to access the internet when away from home or work while 21.2% used a laptop or tablet.

According to the survey, 24.4% of people aged between 16 and 74 ordered goods and services online in the first quarter of 2017 compared with 22.1% in 2016.

The most popular categories of goods/services ordered online were clothes or sports goods, 54.4%, other travel arrangements such as transport tickets, car hire, etc. 48.1%, and holiday accommodation, 38.1%.

The survey showed that 82.4% of the people who bought or ordered goods and services for private use prefer sellers from other EU countries, 39.4% from the rest of the world and, 27.3% buy or order from sellers in Cyprus. The amount spent on goods or services over the internet ranged between €100 and €500.

Source: Cyprus Mail