2.2 Personal computer and Internet access

Differences in the penetration and use of various ICTs, both within and across countries, have been well documented in recent years. Studies of the digital divide (see, for instance, US Dept. of Commerce 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, OECD 2001b, Sciadas 2002, 2003) have also identified and analyzed many factors that influence connectivity and use of ICTs, whether at the household or individual level. While income has always been a key determinant, many other factors have been found to exert an independent influence. These include education, age, gender, residential location (urban vs. rural) and even family type.

Results from the ALL survey confirm such findings. The data reveal that in 2003 computer access ranged from a high of over 80% in Switzerland to a low of less than 40% in Italy. Closely tied to this pattern is Internet access, where nearly three-quarters of individuals in Switzerland compared to less than one-third of individuals in Italy lived in a home with Internet access (Chart 2). In Canada, threequarters (75.6%) of individuals aged 16 to 65 years had computer access, while Internet access from home followed closely (68.1%).

Chart 2. Home computer and Internet access by country, 2003

Source: Veenhof, Clermont and Sciadas, 2005.

As there are divides between nations, there are also divides between regions or provinces. In Canada, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory led in terms of home computer and Internet access (Chart 3). The western provinces have been leading in this area for some time and have traditionally been leaders in the penetration of high-speed Internet by cable (Veenhof, Neogi and van Tol 2003, April 2000). The only provinces with Internet penetration rates below 60% were the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, along with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.