Internet Coverage and Usage in Ireland 2021

The range of devices that people can use to access the internet is ever growing. People can no longer just use the internet on their desktop computer or laptop or perhaps tablet. They can browse and use the internet on devices ranging from smart phones and mobile phones to smart TVs, game consoles, wristwatches, e-book readers and even digital cameras.

In 2021, nearly all (95%) internet users used their smart phone or mobile phone to access the internet. Internet users can use the internet on multiple devices so in this survey, respondents could select more than one option. Three quarters (75%) used the internet on their laptop, 52% used a tablet and just 29% used a desktop computer. Over half (55%) used other devices such as smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch, etc. See Table 3.1.

Use of one’s smart phone or mobile phone to access the internet was high for all age groups but in particular for persons aged 30 to 44 years where almost all (99%) accessed the internet on their smart phone or mobile phone. Similarly, 96% of internet users aged 45 to 59 years and nearly nine in ten (89%) of older internet users aged 60 to 74 years, used the internet on their phone or smart phone. See Table 3.1 and Figure 3.1.

For younger internet users in the 16 to 29 years age group, 86% used their smart phone or mobile phone to access the internet and over nine in ten (92%) used other devices such as smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch, etc. Nearly two thirds (65%) used a laptop while nearly half (47%) used a tablet. See Table 3.1 and Figure 3.1.

Nearly all (97%) persons whose principal economic status was At work used the internet on their phone, while over eight in ten (82%) used their laptop. Nearly two thirds (64%) of such internet users used other devices including smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch, etc. See Table 3.1.

For households of two adults with dependent children, almost all (99%) of persons surveyed used their smart phone to access the internet and 86% used a laptop. Over two thirds (67%) used a tablet while over seven in ten (71%) used other devices. See Table 3.1.

Analysis of the survey data by deprivation quintile shows that although at an overall level, internet users, irrespective of affluence used multiple devices to access the internet but that the use of laptops to access the internet increases as the affluence of the geographical area where the person resides, increases. Over eight in ten (84%) internet users living in very affluent areas used a laptop as one of the devices used to access the internet, compared with just 69% for persons residing in very disadvantaged areas. Nearly six in ten (59%) persons living in affluent or very affluent areas used a tablet, as one of the devices used to access the internet, compared with just 45% for persons residing in very disadvantaged areas and 43% of persons living in disadvantaged areas. See Table 3.1.