Internet Survey Highlights Thirst For Speed

A new national survey by MORI for Intel reveals that use of the Internet is, at last, taking off in the UK. The survey is part of Intel's commitment to helping speed up the Internet - or the 'world wide wait' - through the development of new technologies such as the recently introduced Pentium? III processor.

Over 70% of users were big Internet fans saying that 'the Internet has lots of interesting information which couldn't be found easily anywhere else.' The survey reveals that the biggest use (47%) of the Internet was for educational and research purposes. Next came news and information at 32%. On line shopping - predicted to grow sharply in the near future - is still way down the list at 10%, with online banking even lower at 7%. Over 30% use the Internet to keep in touch with family and friends, and a similar number thought it was a good way of helping kids with their homework.

The survey reveals that the UK's rapidly growing number of Internet users are more worried by computer viruses and computer fraud than by on-line sex. Almost half (48%) of UK Internet users worried about the possibility of downloading a virus onto their computer while more than a third (39%) said their main concern was the possibility of credit card fraud. However, only one in five (20%) felt there was too much sex on the Internet and still fewer (just 8%) worried that the net was leading to a worldwide decline in morals.

On the downside, almost half the UK Internet users (48%) were frustrated by slow systems and the long wait for files and images to download. One in three wished they had a more powerful computer to make the most of the Internet, particularly to help with viewing video and images.

Dave Hazell, director of Intel northern Europe said: "The survey shows that Intel is on the right track in identifying download speed as one of the main concerns of Internet users. If you imagine that Intel's newest processor the Pentium? III is a Ferrari, the bandwidth available to Internet users is the equivalent of driving that Ferrari down a dirt track. We believe that competitive and affordable broadband services are not being offered to consumers. Until local telephone services are deregulated, Internet users will be frustrated with available bandwidth on the Internet. In the meantime, we've built special features into our latest processor, the Pentium? III processor to make the most of what bandwidth is available today".

Nicky Perrott, MORI Research Director, commented: "The people who use the Internet the most are also the most frustrated with its slowness. But despite that, they find it worth the effort because they do persist. Nevertheless, when we asked people what single thing would most improve their experience of the Internet, faster access and download time was by a long way top of their wish list."

The Intel survey also showed that non-users were ripe for conversion. Nearly half said they would use the Internet if it became cheaper than using the phone. "The survey findings highlight that the possible costs incurred by using the Internet are a barrier to more people getting on-line", added Dave Hazell, director of Intel Northern Europe. "Over a third of people currently not using the Internet were worried about the possibility of high telephone bills".

Other reasons for not using the Internet included one in four non users thinking you needed to be a computer boffin to use the Internet, and one in five were worried about the amount of sex on the Internet.

One in four were interested in the educational possibilities that the Internet offers, however, and one in five would consider logging on if they thought the possibility of fraud was less likely.

The Intel survey comes on the back of revealing figures about the massive growth in home PCs and Internet use. For example: one in four homes now has a PC - a figure set to rise to one in three by the year 2001. 22% of UK adults aged over 15 are connected to the Internet at home or at work There are over 100 million Internet users worldwide - set to rise to over 500 million by 2005. The UK's top companies expect 20% of their sales to come directly through the Internet by the year 2000.

Technical details

MORI interviewed 2,274 adults - 580 Internet users and 1,694 non-users aged 18+ between 5-8 February 1999.

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