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IT IS ESTIMATED that 82% of Irish households had access to the internet at home in 2014, the exact same figure as last year.
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that, for the first time since they began recording household internet, there was no increase last year.
What’s more, many of those who don’t have the internet are happy enough without it. Of those without a connection, 42% of people said it was because it wasn’t needed, the largest individual group.
Concerns remain, however, over internet know-how with some with 39% citing ‘lack of skills’ as the reason why they’re not online at home.
Only 4% of the households surveyed by the CSO say that the do not have internet in their homes because it is not available in their area.
Access to the internet at home (source: CSO)
Emailing is the most popular activity carried out by internet users at home with 85% of people doing so, social networking is next at 63% and then internet banking at 60%.
Laptops are the most popular device used by people to get online at home with almost 90% of people using laptops in their household. The comparative decline of desktop computers can be observed by the fact that it is now used by less than a quarter of households with internet access.
Other mobile devices are used at home by about 63% people.
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A blistering 2mbps where I live and its the only show in town, just saying that people are connected to the internet doesn’t mean that they are happy with the connection.
In my day if you misbehaved you were whacked with the wooden spoon and sent to bed.
These days punishment is the turning off of the modem. And apparently kids find this a hell of a lot more painful…
ahh yes. remove their gadgets and make them use their brain, no finer torture
how long again before Labour introduce an Internet tax sorry “licence”…
Montrose is aging buildings located on prime D4 real estate, so a move to anorher sight might be more practicle in the real sense.
No…. The mostly retired households are continually going to die off and be replaced by new singletons and young families who can’t function in their jobs and school without Internet.
I’m heading out californee way. Heard theres some internet out there.
Complete failure of successive governments to see broadband as vital national infrastructure. It’s the 21st century equivalent of electricity and essential in helping prevent rural decline.
Endless announcements but totally inadequate focus on budgets, deadlines, standards, accountability etc.
Seems we are destined to wallow in mediocrity!
Could not agree more !
Couldn’t agree less. As some who worked over vpn in the 2mbit era, and who now has 125mbit, I can tell you it makes no difference whatsoever for work.
Streaming movies is an entirely different matter mind. But the argument about business is bunk…
The TV licence is the Internet tax.
No some houses can’t access it still
The internet is a fad
“Has Ireland reached peak internet?”
No.
Still no fiber connection and only 45km from Dublin
The number one activity on the internet is reading ‘ The Journal ‘ I’m pretty sure about that ?
I think porn still tops it.
It’s not Peak Internet – you’re forgetting about the IIRS: Irish Internet Ritual Sacrifice – it’s the only way the internet can work in this country. Every time someone new joins the internet a current user is secretly sacrificed and buried in the Kerry mountains.
If anyone can switch to UPC i would highly recommend the latest package they have.. 25euro for the first 3 months for new customers and 50euro there after (12 month contract) 120Meg Broadband and UNLIMITED calls to Irish mobiles and Landlines & 400 minutes to 22 international countries Including USA Canada Mobiles
Anytime Mobile provides free calls to local, national and Irish mobile numbers & 400 anytime minutes a month to fixed landline numbers in 22 international destinations & USA & Canadian mobile numbers. Unlimited calls you would think there is a catch.. *A fair usage policy of 6,000 minutes a month applies to local, national and Irish mobile number calls. that’s over 100hours of calls per month well worth it.
UPC is shite.
I’ve never had any problems with UPC, fast broadband. €65 a month for tv, phone and broadband. In London i pay £32/€41 for phone and broadband.
@Jake Are you the type of person that thinks Eircom are better? Far from it. UPC have the fastest broadband in Ireland. and as i mentioned above a great package with home phone.
so if its not UNLIMITED, why did you feel you needed to shout it. Its either LIMITED or UNLIMITED, no asteix necessary, you sound like you work for them, and as a previous customer of UPC, I can agree they are shite.
UPC customer service is terrible. They offer a good value broadband service but if you have any problems at all you might as well give up trying to get it sorted with them.
Em, no, it’s not, Jake. It’s actually pretty good. It’s the best we’ve had so far anyway and way better than Eircom in our experience.
What the f**k is the internet?!
Sure Simon i work for UPC, spend my time on thejounral trying to convince people to get this package.. get a grip! put UNLIMITED in caps because alot of company’s including mobile networks say unlimited when its not. and since this article is about internet i was suggestion the best internet package out there. if you think UPC are shite fair enough… Why dont you tell me what the best internet provider is then? Eircom? Sky? Vodafone?
I’ve been with Magnet for quite a few years now. It’s not available everywhere but it’s superior to UPC (who I was with for years before).
40 a month for TV and proper fiber. As in, fiber to the home, not the curb. Unlimited too. Zero contention ratio. I’m right beside a mobile tower too so the 4g signal at home is fantastic. Use connectify (a kickstarter funded app) to merge the two connections into a super fast connection. Don’t need a phone because… well, it’s 2014. Who still has a land line?
Magnet support is in Ireland with fluent English speaking customer service. Month by month billing, no contract.
I’d venture to say that they are the best in Ireland.
I rely on a small local provider. Was sick of waiting for the bigger companies to decide to provide good broadband to us. Am very happy with them, pays to have a local company who understands its customer’s needs and the local topography. Long may they be in business.
I’ve reached peak peak…please could people stop using peak this and peak that!
have your say