Taiwan's Internet penetration rate stood at 65.07 percent last month, with the number of Internet users increasing by 1,476 compared with the figure six months earlier, according to the results of a survey released recently by the Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC).
The survey shows that 68.68 percent of men in Taiwan are Internet users, which is higher than the 63.27 percent among women; and more than 87 percent of the people in the 12-35 age group regularly go online.
While 11.62 million people in Taiwan, or 59.93 percent of the population, have broadband Internet access, the penetration rate is the highest in Taipei (73.68 percent), followed by Kaohsiung (69.59 percent).
north highest
By region, the broadband Internet penetration rate among individuals is highest in the northern part of the country, at 63.46 percent, and lowest in the eastern part, at 50.80 percent, according to the survey.
It also shows that 5.32 million households, or 73.39 percent of all households in the country, have access to the Internet, with 4.7 million households, or 64.81 percent, having broadband Internet access.
broadband
The home broadband Internet penetration rate is highest in Taipei (73.68 percent), followed by Kaohsiung (75.30 percent). The figure for the northern part of the country is 70.84 percent, compared with 49.98 percent for the eastern coastal areas.
Among the households surveyed that currently do not have broadband Internet access, only 17.69 percent expressed an interest in installing broadband within the next six months.
The survey was conducted between Dec. 5 last year and Jan. 16, with 3,039 Taiwanese residents aged 12 years of age or older taking part. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.79 percentage points.
steadily rising
As shown in similar surveys conducted by the TWNIC every six months over the past three years, the number of Internet and broadband Internet users, as well as the penetration rates and home access to the Internet have all been rising steadily, said Hsieh Pang-chang (
An estimate based on the most recent survey conducted indicates that 18.38 percent of the population, or 3.56 million people, now have wireless Internet access, which also represents a significant increase compared with the figures obtained from past surveys, Hsieh said.
In terms of broadband Internet access, the number of households using cable modems provided by local cable television operators has also risen in the last two surveys, he said.
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