The proportion of UK homes with internet access has risen from 5% to 17% in 18 months, according to research released this week from Continental Research Ltd, and another 800,000 homes are forecast to be online before the end of the year. The report restates the fact that many people have been encouraged to use the internet by the proliferation of subscription-free services, pioneered by recently-floated Freeserve Plc.
In addition, the report claims that 17.2 million people, or 37% of the population, now have net access – 27% at work or school, and 22% from home. Continental also said that 44% of net users go online at least once a day, up from 31% in 1998. The typical net user is male, under 55, and of the AB demographic group, according to the report.
