NIC.br presents results of TIC Households 2007

Third edition of the survey reveals an increase in ownership and use of information and communication technologies among Brazilians

The Information and Coordination Center of Ponto BR — NIC.br (https://www.nic.br), presented today the results of the 3rd Survey on the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Brazil, TIC Households 2007. The entity released the indicators related to the modules Access to Information and Communication Technologies, Computer Use, Internet Use, Wireless Access, and Intention to Acquire ICT Equipment.

According to the survey, the year 2007 was definitive in promoting the growth of Internet usage in paid public access centers (Internet cafés, LAN houses, etc.), which became the predominant place for Internet access in Brazil. “This type of paid access jumped from 30% in 2006 to 49% in 2007, surpassing home usage, which remained stable at 40%, showing that private initiative can contribute to alleviating the social problem of digital exclusion in the country,” explains Mariana Balboni, manager of the Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies (CETIC.br).

Check all the details in the attachment Highlights – TIC Households 2007 - https://www.nic.br/imprensa/coletivas/2008/tic-domicilios2007.pdf
All survey results are available at https://www.cetic.br/.

Another highlight revealed in the survey was the increase in the pace of home computer acquisitions in 2007: the equipment is present in 24% of Brazilian households, representing an increase of 4 percentage points compared to 2006. The result shows that digital inclusion programs facilitating the population's purchase of computers through increased financing and tax exemption are taking effect.

“The most significant growth occurred in households with incomes between 3 and 5 minimum wages, in which penetration rose from 23% to 40% during the period, which are precisely the focus of programs like Computers for All, from the Federal Government,” emphasizes Mariana. And for the first time, more than half of the Brazilian population over 10 years old (53%) reported having used a computer.

Also according to the study, broadband connections are already present in 50% of Brazilian households with Internet access, but 42% still primarily access the network via traditional dial-up modem. In 2006, dial-up connection was predominant at 49%, while broadband represented 40% of household access types. The growth of broadband during the period was, therefore, 10 percentage points. “This data suggests a recent process of substituting one connection technology for another, and also that household Internet users are showing more willingness to pay for a faster connection,” she explains.

However, according to the CETIC manager, socioeconomic factors and regional inequalities are still the main determinants of Internet access in Brazil: the higher the income and education, the greater the access; wealthier regions have more access. In other words, digital exclusion continues to follow social exclusion in the country.

The main barrier to owning ICT equipment at home remains economic: the high cost of computers (78%) and home Internet access (58%). However, the main reason Brazilians declare for not using the Internet is the lack of skills (55%), reinforcing that equipment ownership is not a prerequisite for use. Other mentioned reasons are the lack of need or interest (39%) and the inability to afford access (31%). “This shows that the barriers to Internet use in Brazil are becoming more related to issues of education and individual capability rather than the cost of access,” she argues.

Among the main activities developed on the Internet in 2007, actions related to communication, leisure, and online information seeking stood out, performed by nearly 90% of Brazilian internet users. In communication, the Internet was mainly used for exchanging emails (72%), participating in social networking sites like Orkut (64%), and sending instant messages (55%).

Methodology

Produced by the Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies (CETIC.br), the study was conducted between September and November 2007 and investigated 17,000 households in urban areas, interviewing people aged 10 and older, across the five regions of the country. The sample was designed based on the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics — IBGE.

“The initiative aims to monitor the evolution of the Internet in Brazil and provide support for the formulation of public policies ensuring network access and use, as well as the democratic participation of citizens and countries in the knowledge society,” states Mariana Balboni.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Ipsos Public Affairs and maintained the international methodological standard of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) and Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Communities). TIC 2007 also counted on the collaboration of the Observatory for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean (OSILAC), under the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which works with developing key information and communication technology indicators, approved at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005.

About CETIC.br

The Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies - CETIC.br - is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on Internet availability and use in Brazil, disseminating periodic analyses and information on the network's development in the country.
For more information, visit https://www.cetic.br.

About Ponto BR Information and Coordination Center - NIC.br

Ponto BR Information and Coordination Center — NIC.br (https://www.nic.br) is a civil, non-profit entity created to implement the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee — CGI.br (https://www.cgi.br), which is responsible for coordinating and integrating Internet service initiatives in the country. NIC.br oversees domain name registration — Registro.br (https://www.registro.br), the Center for Studies, Response, and Treatment of Security Incidents in Brazil - CERT.br (https://www.cert.br), the implementation and operation of Traffic Exchange Points — PTT.br (https://www.ptt.br), and the Center for Studies on Information and Communication Technologies — CETIC.br (https://www.cetic.br), which aims to produce and disseminate information and statistics on the Internet's availability and use in the country.

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee - CGI.br

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/

For more information, visit: www.s2.com.br or www.nic.br

Entity: Ponto BR Information and Coordination Center (NIC.br)
Source: Mariana Balboni, communication manager

Responsible Journalists
S2 Integrated Communication - https://www.s2.com.br
Veronica Cassavia – veronicac@s2.com.br
José Luiz Schiavoni (MTb 14.119) joseluiz@s2.com.br

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