The wireless home is becoming a reality for millions of consumers according to a new survey of 2000 internet users from Strategy Analytics. Twenty percent of broadband subscribers across the US and Europe now use WiFi to share their Internet connection between PCs and other devices.
According to the report, 7 percent of all households now have a wireless network. The U.S. is the leading market with 8.4 percent penetration, followed by the Nordic region with 7.9 percent. WiFi usage in the UK (6.1 percent) and Germany (5.1 percent) is below the average. The survey also found that consumers in the highest income groups were three times more likely to use WiFi than those in the least affluent.
"WiFi has become the preferred networking technology for affluent early adopters," notes David Mercer, Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "Rising ownership of laptop PCs and other portable Internet devices will make WiFi the dominant home networking choice for most broadband subscribers."
Strategy Analytics' broadband user survey is based on online interviews with 2000 home Internet users in eight countries (US, France, Germany, UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden). The survey included demographic and psychographic questions, as well as those related to ownership of digital consumer electronics devices, usage of broadband services and interest in emerging applications such as online media.
According to the report, 7 percent of all households now have a wireless network. The U.S. is the leading market with 8.4 percent penetration, followed by the Nordic region with 7.9 percent. WiFi usage in the UK (6.1 percent) and Germany (5.1 percent) is below the average. The survey also found that consumers in the highest income groups were three times more likely to use WiFi than those in the least affluent.
"WiFi has become the preferred networking technology for affluent early adopters," notes David Mercer, Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "Rising ownership of laptop PCs and other portable Internet devices will make WiFi the dominant home networking choice for most broadband subscribers."
Strategy Analytics' broadband user survey is based on online interviews with 2000 home Internet users in eight countries (US, France, Germany, UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden). The survey included demographic and psychographic questions, as well as those related to ownership of digital consumer electronics devices, usage of broadband services and interest in emerging applications such as online media.