Internet Coverage and Usage in Ireland 2021

Our everyday lives are becoming far more digital. We are using the internet more, working from home and relying on technology and digital services. People can access the internet at home, work, other places or on the move. In this survey, respondents were asked about the types of internet connection that they have at home. They may have a fixed broadband connection (such as cable, optical fibre, satellite, etc.) or mobile broadband connection (via the mobile phone network with minimum 3G) or in some cases, narrowband connection (dial‐up access over normal telephone line or ISDN or mobile narrowband connection of less than 3G ). Persons may have more than one type of internet connection at home, and this chapter covers household internet access and type of connection used.

In 2021, 93% of households have an internet connection, an increase of one percentage point since 2020. Household internet connectivity was highest for the Dublin region (96%), compared with the Border and Mid-West regions (both at 89% of households). See Table 4.1.

In 2021, almost all households with dependent children have internet access. This compares with just 79% of households comprised of one adult with no dependent children. See Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1.

Data for 2021 indicates that fixed broadband is the most common type of internet access in the household (85% compared with 30% using mobile broadband). Note that more than one type of internet connection may be used in households. See Table 4.2.

Fixed broadband connection is highest in the Dublin region at 92% of households, compared with the West and Border regions, at 78% and 75% of households respectively. See Table 4.2 and Figure 4.2.

There are differences in fixed broadband connection between deprivation quintiles. Fixed broadband connection is most common for households in very affluent areas at 91% of households. For households in very disadvantaged areas, 85% have fixed broadband connection, and over eight in every ten (82%) households in disadvantaged areas have a fixed broadband connection in their home. See Table 4.2.

Mobile broadband internet connection was most common in households made up of just one adult with no dependent children, at 37% of these households, while fixed broadband connectivity had 75% penetration for these households. See Table 4.2.

In 2021, of the 7% of households with no internet access, over half (51%) of these households reported that the reason for no access was that they do not need the internet. Over one third (36%) reported lack of skills or knowledge as a reason for not having household internet access. Equipment costs too high and access costs too high were cited by 13% and 10% of households respectively as the reason for not having a household internet connection, while just 2% of households stated privacy/security concerns. Nearly one in ten (9%) of these households reported that broadband internet was not available in their area. Over one in ten of these respondents (11%) stated that they had access to the internet elsewhere (at work, local library, etc.). Note that more than one reason may have been selected by respondents. See Table 4.3 and Figure 4.3.