iMinds Digimeter report 2014

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Media and ICT adoption in Flanders

 

Adoption of computers (both laptops or computers) has stablized at 92,0% (-0,4)*. The laptop remains the most popular type of computer at an adoption of 79,4% (+0,7)*, whereas 54,3% (-1,0)* have access to a desktop in their household. Over 9 in 10 people in Flanders (92,4%) have access to an internet connection in their households.

 

After the significant drop last year, game consoles have stabilized at 29,4% (+1,5%)* for TV-connected consoles and 14,5% (+0,4%)* for handheld consoles. Almost 1 in 3 Flemings has access to a TV-connected game console in their households, and 1 in 7 has a handheld game console in their households.

 

The adoption of tablets is still growing exponentially. Now 55,8% of the Flemish population has access to a tablet in their households. This shows an increase of 14,4 percentage points compared to last year.

 

Telephony remains widely available in Flanders: 99,6% have access to a fixed or mobile telephony connection. 68,4% of the Flemish population have a fixed telephone at home (-2,9).

 

Mobile telephony stagnates at 96,2%. However, there is a remarkable difference in the evolution of ‘normal` mobile phones (GSM) versus smartphones: whereas the adoption of GSM has dropped almost 10 percentage points to 52,7%, the penetration of smartphones has risen at the same rate to 57,3%. It is the first time that adoption of smartphones surpasses the adoption of regular mobile phones. Adoption of TV screens remains stable, at 97,3%.

 

The adoption of flat screens is still rising: 83,7% (+3,4)* now own a flat screen in their household. Only 13,6% (-3,3)*only have a classic TV tube in their households.

 

The general results of Digimeter 2014 show that the adoption of most devices and technologies, except smartphones and tablets, are reaching a saturation point in Flanders.

 

The absolute difference between this wave and the previous wave should be considered with caution, as the sampling quota of this wave have been reformed with the inclusion of education level, though the results show some emerging trends: with 9/10 having access to the internet and a computer in their households, 1/3 to a gaming console, and 86% having digital TV in their households, the adoption of these technologies seem to stagnate or only show a limited growth. The adoption of smartphones and the access to a tablet in the households are the exception with a significant growth.

 

Want to know more about Media and ICT in Flanders in 2014? Download the summary or request the full report here.