Internet access enjoyed by only 33.4% of Greeks
Source: National Statistical Service of Greece
Since 2002, the National Statistical Service of Greece is announcing its study results on Internet usage in Greece, according to EU standards. The graph above presents computer usage -the blue line- and more importantly Internet usage -the red line. So here is the high points:
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Internet access in the Greek population has more than doubled in five years.
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Internet and computer usage are more or less synonymous.
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The percentage of computer users without Internet access is shrinking -the reason the two lines converge. It was 39% in 2002 and went down to 17% in 2007!
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Both computer and Internet usage have accelerated since 2005.
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The potential for the IT and Internet market is still large due to the untapped part of the population that currently uses non of the two.
And the low points:
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33.4% Internet usage? That’s pretty low by European standards.
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Unless computer usage increases there is not much hope for Internet usage to increase significantly.
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Greek ISPs are fighting for a pool of users that has growth potential but the characteristics of a saturated market.
And not only this. Going through the full statistical report there is lots of worrisome facts. Some examples:
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46.4% of people aged 30-34 do not use a computer at all! This is the age when professionals are supposedly at their most creative period. I have to say that looking at the older age statistics makes me depressed…
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32% and 40% of professionals with university and higher technical degrees still do not use the Internet. This group is at the heart the Internet community and should have almost complete usage due to the nature of its profession.
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Women’s usage is roughly 30% lower than that of men.
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Information searches, news, communication, music and games are the most regular activities of Greek Internet users. Online shopping and bank transactions appear as low priorities.
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And the most discouraging fact. Non-broadband users -remember this is 70.4% of homes!- say they do not use a faster connection because they do not need it or the cost is too high. From this I understand that the Internet is still a low priority and the vast majority of users use it rarely.
Web 2.0? I think it will take some time in Greece as the majority is still in the passive stage and the rate of content creation lags usage. Of course, the above facts and problems in broadband access are in the center of attention for some time now. There is currently a coordinated state effort to revamp sites in order to ease the load of bureaucracy and lure civilians to heavier Internet use. Despite all this, I am still not convinced that the issue is only the availability of services. The main fact is the limited demand for the more advanced Internet propositions and this unfortunately does not show enough in the statistics…
