This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7139943.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK 'keener on online networking' | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| More adults in the UK use social networking sites such as Facebook than in other European countries, a report by communications watchdog Ofcom says. | |
| Four out of 10 UK adults with internet access use social networking sites compared to 17% in France, 12% in Germany and 22% in Italy. | |
| The UK is eclipsed only by Canada where 53% of internet users go on social networking sites. | |
| In Japan and the US the percentage is 32% and 34% respectively. | |
| International comparisons | |
| The Ofcom report into the £873bn telecoms, radio and television sectors compared the UK with 11 other countries, including Canada and the US. | |
| It also looked at emerging giants Brazil, Russia, India and China, where mobile phone growth is particularly strong. | |
| The report found that the US and UK are the only places where men do not use the internet more than women. | |
| In the UK, the split is equal, while in the US 52% of internet users are women. | |
| Cheap deals | Cheap deals |
| The watchdog also said that the UK enjoys some of the cheapest deals for telephone, pay-TV and broadband. | |
| In the UK, about 40% of households already take a bundled service, where they pay a monthly fee for a telephone landline, pay-TV and the internet. | In the UK, about 40% of households already take a bundled service, where they pay a monthly fee for a telephone landline, pay-TV and the internet. |
| This can be as low as £25 in the UK for a typical family household including two parents and two children. | This can be as low as £25 in the UK for a typical family household including two parents and two children. |
| This compares with £27.22 in France, £39.77 in Germany and £69.54 in the US. | This compares with £27.22 in France, £39.77 in Germany and £69.54 in the US. |
| COST OF PHONE, INTERNET & TV UK: £25France: £27.22Germany: £39.77US: £69.54 Price for triple play dealsSource: Ofcom | |
| Price may be one of the reasons the UK has the highest take-up of digital television in the 12 countries surveyed. | Price may be one of the reasons the UK has the highest take-up of digital television in the 12 countries surveyed. |
| At the end of 2006, about 76% of UK households were digital. | At the end of 2006, about 76% of UK households were digital. |
| But it is still Japanese and US consumers who spend the most time watching television, averaging 4.5 hours a day. | But it is still Japanese and US consumers who spend the most time watching television, averaging 4.5 hours a day. |
| This is one hour more than people spend in front of television in the UK. | This is one hour more than people spend in front of television in the UK. |
| Revenue boost | Revenue boost |
| Internet advertising revenues are also on the rise, particularly in the UK. | Internet advertising revenues are also on the rise, particularly in the UK. |
| Chinese use of mobile phones is on the rise | Chinese use of mobile phones is on the rise |
| At £33, advertisers in the UK spend more money per person on internet advertising than any other country, twice as much as that spent in France, Germany and Italy combined. | At £33, advertisers in the UK spend more money per person on internet advertising than any other country, twice as much as that spent in France, Germany and Italy combined. |
| Overall, the money to be made from telecom services is increasing, reflecting the growing importance of the sector. | Overall, the money to be made from telecom services is increasing, reflecting the growing importance of the sector. |
| Telecom services revenue per head increased by 20% - from £288m in 2001 to £345m in 2006 - across the countries surveyed, the report found. | Telecom services revenue per head increased by 20% - from £288m in 2001 to £345m in 2006 - across the countries surveyed, the report found. |
| Global take up | Global take up |
| Globally, mobiles are driving growth in the communications sector, now accounting for 53% of total telecoms revenues. | Globally, mobiles are driving growth in the communications sector, now accounting for 53% of total telecoms revenues. |
| By the end of 2006, there were 402 million landlines and 634 million mobile connections in the 12 countries surveyed. | By the end of 2006, there were 402 million landlines and 634 million mobile connections in the 12 countries surveyed. |
| Brazil, Russia, China and India are driving much of this growth. | Brazil, Russia, China and India are driving much of this growth. |
| Since 2001, more than 660 million subscriptions were added in these four countries, accounting for 40% of total new mobile subscriptions globally. | Since 2001, more than 660 million subscriptions were added in these four countries, accounting for 40% of total new mobile subscriptions globally. |
| Last year, mobile phone users in China sent 429 billion text messages, or 967 text messages per user, compared with 621 per mobile user in the UK. | Last year, mobile phone users in China sent 429 billion text messages, or 967 text messages per user, compared with 621 per mobile user in the UK. |
| New subscriptions in India doubled to 150 million, more than twice the number of UK subscribers. | New subscriptions in India doubled to 150 million, more than twice the number of UK subscribers. |