Internet Access and E-commerce

E-commerce is likely to have a huge impact on the way we do business. It has the potential to lead to dramatic growth in trade, increase markets, improve efficiency and effectiveness and transform business processes. In recognition of its significance in the future performance of the economy, the UK Government set itself the target of becoming ‘the best environment in the world to do e-commerce.’ (Office for National Statistics)

Broadband connections rose to 88.4 per cent of all connections in September 2007, up from 86.2 per cent in June 2007. There was a year on year increase in the index of broadband connections of 26 per cent, with a quarterly increase of 4.1 per cent.

Dial-up connections continued to decrease, with a year on year fall in the index of 48.1 per cent to September 2007. The quarterly decrease, from June 2007 to September 2007, was 14.9 per cent.

Value of Internet sales rises 56 per cent in 2005 2005 e-commerce Survey of Business (PDF Document) 72kb

2005 Survey of business (PDF document) 323kb

 Internet Access
Nearly 15million households online
Published on 28 August 2007

In 2007, nearly 15 million households in Great Britain (61 per cent) had Internet access. This is an increase of just over 1 million households (7 per cent) over the last year and nearly 4 million households (36 per cent) since 2002.

In 2007, of all UK households including Northern Ireland, over 15 million (61 per cent) had access to the Internet. This was an increase of nearly 1 million households (7 per cent) since 2006. The regions with the highest level of access were the South West and London, both with 69 per cent. The regions with the lowest access levels were Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and Northern Ireland, each with 52 per cent.

Eighty four per cent of UK households with Internet access had a broadband connection in 2007, up from 69 per cent in 2006. As in 2006, London had the highest level of households with broadband Internet access at 60 per cent. Of London households with Internet access, 88 per cent had a broadband connection. Northern Ireland remained the region with the lowest level of households with broadband Internet access, at 40 per cent of all households. Of Northern Ireland households with Internet access, 78 per cent had a broadband connection.