Content State

The findings of a European Commission report show that one-third of the European population has never used a website, experienced online banking, searched for anything on Google, or interacted on Facebook.

The fact that this finding is astounding shows that the internet has become deeply ingrained in our lives. Owing to mobile broadband, people can now use the internet at any time or place, made even more convenient with a free laptop that are being offered with mobile broadband by many of the service providers. This makes it difficult to imagine that some people have never used online shopping sites or blogged.

The study however states that people who have not used the internet are mostly those who are either aged or who cannot pay for it. Besides, the percentage of such people has decreased significantly in the last one year.

The research states that the information technology sector has not been as badly hit by the economic turmoil as other businesses have. It also says that countries with a high number of broadband internet users can in fact help the European economy to get back on its feet.

Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, is of the opinion that the digital communications industry of Europe can help in sustainable economic growth by providing jobs and can lead to generation of wealth in various industries. The governments of different nations should act in this regard and make laws that remove restrictions against new services, she said.