CGI.br releases unprecedented indicators on the internet in the country

In addition to presenting the surveys on network penetration and use in households and businesses, the entity announces partnerships with IBGE and Ibope//NetRatings 

The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br), as the coordinator of internet service initiatives in the country, has as one of its main responsibilities the collection and dissemination of periodic information on internet services. To monitor and assess the socio-economic impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the country, CGI.br has partnered with IBGE – Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Ipsos-Opinion Institute, and Ibope//NetRatings in constructing indicators on internet penetration and use in the country.

"Our goal is to produce and disseminate indicators that assist the government in developing public policies that ensure access to information and communication technologies in the country," says Rogério Santanna, advisor to CGI.br and coordinator of the project at the entity, informing that this data will also allow the comparability of the Brazilian reality with other countries, ensuring the correct positioning of Brazil in international surveys.

The partnership with IBGE foresees the inclusion of a module with 23 basic questions on internet penetration and use in the National Household Sample Survey – PNAD 2005, including indicators on internet access location, frequency of use, types of services and activities performed, among others. 140 thousand households will be surveyed still this year. The results will be available in October 2006.

To form a comprehensive database on the reality of the internet in the country, CGI.br agreed with Ibope//NetRatings to publish some network usage indicators that the research institute periodically discloses. Historical series of active internet users and hours navigated since 2000 will be available, as well as eleven monthly indicators of internet access worldwide and in Brazil from August 2005.

TIC Surveys in Households and Businesses

The surveys on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Brazilian households and businesses were conducted by the Ipsos-Opinion Institute in August and September 2005. The methodology used followed the international standard of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Commission), allowing international comparability. The probabilistic samples of each survey were designed to present a maximum margin of error of 1.5% nationally and 5% regionally.

The Household ICT Survey measured internet penetration and use in households, including the use of e-government, e-commerce, security, education, and access barriers. The interviews were conducted in person, in 8,540 households and with individuals aged 10 and older. The results allow the presentation of indicators by 15 regions and metropolitan areas, social class, education, age, and gender.

The Business ICT Survey investigated internet penetration and use in companies, including the use of e-government, e-commerce, security, among others. The interviews were conducted by telephone for 2,030 companies with more than 10 employees, covering the 7 segments of the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE) - section D, F, G, K, I, groups 55.1, and 55.2, and groups 92.1 and 92.2 - corresponding to the Eurostat model. The results are obtained by region (N, S, CO, NE, SE), activity, and size.

Household ICT Results

Data from the Household ICT survey reinforces that access and use of computers and the internet in the country depend solely on the individual's socio-economic level, family income, and the region where they live. The penetration of computer ownership and internet use in various social segments is concentrated among individuals from wealthier families and, in parallel, among individuals living in wealthier regions. Furthermore, younger people use computers and the internet more than older people.

Regarding computer use, the survey shows that:

• 55% of the Brazilian population has never used a computer
• 16.6% of the Brazilian population owns a computer at home
• 30% of the Brazilian population used a computer in the last 3 months
• 13.8% of the Brazilian population uses a computer daily

Regarding internet use, the survey indicates that:

• 68% of the Brazilian population has never used the internet
• 24% of the Brazilian population used it in the last 3 months
• 9.6% of the Brazilian population uses the internet daily
• 41% of the Brazilian population uses the internet for educational activities
• 32% of the Brazilian population uses the internet for personal purposes
• 26% of the Brazilian population uses the internet for work

Use of Electronic Government

The survey on internet use for access to electronic government services reveals that:

• 12.68% of the Brazilian population used some Electronic Government service in the last 12 months. This means that 40% of the people who used the internet in the last 12 months also accessed some type of e-government service.

The main Electronic Government services used in the last 12 months were (% of mentions in the total Brazilian population):

• CPF consultation - 6%
• Income Tax Declaration – 5%
• Information on public education services - 3%
• Registrations in Public Contests - 3%
• Information on jobs - 2%
• Payments of IPVA, fines, and licensing - 2%

Electronic Commerce

Regarding making purchases over the internet, the survey shows that:

• Only 6.38% of the population has purchased a product or service on the internet in the last 12 months, representing 20% of the people who used the internet in the period

Most purchased products on the internet (percentage of those who made the purchase):

• Movies and music (physically delivered): 17.9%
• Electronic equipment (e.g., cameras): 14.4%
• Books, magazines, or newspapers (digitally delivered): 14.1%
• Books, magazines, or newspapers (physically delivered): 13.3%
• Home products/appliances: 12.6%
• Computers and IT equipment: 11.7%

Of those who have already used the internet, 80% have never made a purchase through it. The stated reasons for not using the internet for purchasing products are:

• Concern about the risks of Electronic Commerce (36.02%)
• Prefers to evaluate the product personally/in person (27.04%)
• Concern about using their Credit Card on the internet (13.58%)
• Does not trust the product they will receive (12.84%)
• Concerned about providing personal information (9.60%)

The pattern of Electronic Commerce use is distributed among social segments similarly to internet use: people from wealthier families and regions buy more on the internet than people from poorer families and regions. In parallel, younger people buy more than older people.

Internet Activities and Education

The main activities carried out on the internet by those who used the network in the last 3 months were:

• Sending and receiving emails: 17.21%
• Performing school activities: 11.48%
• Searching for information about goods and services: 8.94%
• Reading newspapers and magazines: 8.64%
• Sending instant messages: 8.48%
• Searching for information: 8.04%
• Searching for information on entertainment and leisure: 7.90%

Those who have computer and internet skills in the Brazilian population acquired these skills in the following ways:

• At a computer school: 17.83%
• Self-taught, learned by using: 13.06%
• With relatives, friends, and colleagues at work: 11.27%
• In a formal educational institution: 8.85%
• In government training courses: 2.19%

Business ICT Results

The overview of the use of Information and Communication Technologies in Brazilian companies represented by the survey is very positive. Computer and internet use penetration rates are high, showing the extensive digitization of the private sector.

• 98.76% of companies used computers in the last 12 months
• 80% of companies that used computers have a wired LAN
• 96.29% of companies accessed the internet in the last 12 months
• 39% of companies that used computers have an intranet
• 17.60 is the average number of employees using computers in companies
• 16.54% of companies have employees accessing the company's computer system remotely
• 44.52% of companies had a high degree or almost complete replacement of traditional mail by email

Most represented companies opt for high-speed internet connections. Even so, a considerable part of companies still uses the traditional form of access.

Types of internet connection (percentages of the total number of companies with internet access)

• 57.95% of companies used DSL connection in the last 12 months
• 45.07% of companies used a traditional modem in the last 12 months
• 23.95% of companies used a mobile broadband connection

Purpose of Use

The most sought-after services on the internet by companies were banking and financial services. A large part of companies also used the internet to interact with public bodies:

• 78.96% of companies used the internet for banking and financial services
• 64.78% used the internet to interact with public bodies

The most used electronic government services were: (percentages of the total number of companies that used electronic government services)

• 81.87% Income Tax Declaration
• 74.84% State registration record consultation
• 72.99% FGTS consultation
• 65.18% PIS/PASEP consultation

Electronic Commerce

Electronic commerce in the companies represented was concentrated on email exchanges. Nonetheless, a considerable number of Brazilian companies represented in the sample used the internet to make sales (percentages refer to companies with Internet access in the last 12 months).

• 44.09% of companies purchased through email orders
• 57.98% of companies sold through orders received by email
• 59.06% of companies had a web page
• 28.46% of companies sold over the internet
• 74.23% of companies that sold on the internet achieved lower business costs

Security

The data shows that a good part of the companies suffered some type of internet security problem (percentages refer to companies with internet access in the last 12 months).

• 50.34% of companies experienced virus attacks
• 31.13% of companies suffered trojan attacks
• 17.44% of companies suffered worm or bot attacks

At the same time, the companies represented in the survey are aware of the security problem on the network and show a great penetration of security measures:

• 92.72% of companies used antivirus
• 71.70% of companies update their antivirus at least weekly
• 49.48% of companies used between clients and servers (via SSL, HTTPS)
• 38.33% of companies used offsite data backup.

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee
The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee coordinates and integrates all internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and the dissemination of the services offered. More information at https://www.cgi.br

Source: Demi Getschko and Rogério Santanna
Brazilian Internet Steering Committee


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This content was automatically translated with the support of artificial intelligence.