North Signs Up For Broadband Revolution

Consumers in the North are embracing the online world more than ever - according to new research from the UK's broadcast regulator, Ofcom.

Despite full digital switchover not being due to take place in Northern Ireland until 2012 - only 13% of households are still using analogue TV on their main set.

As a whole, satellite is the most popular local TV platform, with 43% of homes having satellite as their main way of watching television.

Freeview is the next most popular TV platform at 28% with cable at 12%.

But the big change is in computer access with a huge 70% of homes in NI now having broadband, an increase of 6% from last year, putting NI on a par with the UK as a whole.

The increase in broadband has led to a rise in online activities such as social networking, watching catch-up TV and making calls over the Internet.

Ofcom's annual Communications Market Report into the TV, radio, broadband, telecoms and mobile sectors also showed that rural consumers are ahead of their urban neighbours when it comes to the use of many communications services, including broadband, mobile phones and satellite television.

Over a third of people in NI now use social networking sites while 38% now watch TV online and 15% of households make phone or video calls over the internet - all significant increases over the last 12 months.

However, Ofcom's research confirmed that people who live in rural locations across the UK, including rural areas of Northern Ireland, are less likely to have access to super-fast broadband, a 3G-phone signal, and a choice of suppliers through their local telephone exchange.

The research shows that the average broadband speeds delivered to premises in rural locations are typically lower than in urban areas; that fixed-line take-up is often higher; and that households are less likely in rural areas to take communications services in bundles.

People in rural areas are also more likely to have satellite television (51% compared to 40%), probably owing to the fact that digital cable is restricted to Belfast and Londonderry/Derry.

The early evening TV news continues to be very popular with viewers in Northern Ireland, with UTV's programme attracting the highest audience share (34%) of any nations and regions bulletins.

More people in Northern Ireland regard radio as their main source of news than anywhere else in the UK and, at 20%, it is almost twice the UK average.

(BMcC/KMcA)