Eight out of ten households online in Estonia

TALLINN - Over 80 percent of Estonian households are connected to the Internet, new research shows. The latest figures from Statistics Estonia show a rise in the number of homeowners online since last year.

The Internet connection at home is almost always a broadband connection (DSL, cable TV, 3G mobile Internet). Research shows the main reasons for not having an Internet connection at home are lack of skills, the high cost of equipment and access, and the lack of need for Internet.

The research company also revealed that 80 percent of those aged 16–74 have used the Internet. Use of the computer and the Internet is less widespread in the older age groups. Sixty-three percent of 55-64-year-olds and 31 percent of 65-74-year-olds have used the Internet. Compared to the previous year, the share of Internet users has increased by four percentage points in both age groups.

Nine out of ten Internet users have used the Internet for reading Web publications, Internet banking and e-mailing. The most common Internet use is searching for information.