One in five Internet users has mobile access

More than 2 million people in the Netherlands accessed the Internet using mobile equipment such as a laptop or mobile phone in 2007. This is nearly 20 percent of all Internet users. Men and young people with higher education levels in particular are more likely to use a mobile connection.

Mobile access mostly via laptop

Most mobile Internet connections in 2007 took place via a laptop with a wireless modem. Thirteen percent of all Internet users accessed the Internet in this way. Another 8 percent of Internet users used a mobile phone to access the Internet. Only 3 percent used a palmtop.

Mobile internet access, 2007

More men than women use mobile access

Among male Internet users, 24 percent accessed the Internet via mobile equipment. This is a significantly higher share than among women, of whom 14 percent did this. Men used their mobile phones in particular more than women: 12 percent compared with 4 percent.

Mobile Internet access by sex, 2007

Young  and well educated

Mobile Internet access is popular among younger people with a high level of education. Just over 30 percent of Internet users with a higher level of education under 45 years of age accessed the internet with the aid of mobile equipment in 2007. For older Internet users and those with lower education levels this was only 7 percent.

The distribution pattern of mobile Internet access in society thus resembles that of the Internet at the end of the last century. Then, too, the first users of the Internet were younger men with higher education levels.

Mobile Internet access by education level and age, 2007

Ger Linden and Marjolein Korvorst