In the year 2012 an increase was recorded in the use of information technologies in enterprises and households in Cyprus as well as by individuals according to the findings of two surveys, which are published Monday by the Cyprus Statistical Service.
According to the surveys, titled "Information and Communication Technologies Usage and e-Commerce in Enterprises" and "Information and Communication usage in Households and by Individuals", computers were used in 96.9% of enterprises in 2012 while the corresponding percentage for 2011 was 93.1%.
The percentage of the enterprises with internet access increased to 98.3% in 2012 compared to 82.3% in 2004 and DSL was the most widely used type of internet connection.
Furthermore, 84.6% of the enterprises used the internet for interaction with the Public Service. In 2012 63,4% of the enterprises had their own website.
In 2012, however, e-commerce remained at low levels. Only 8.4% of enterprises received orders via computer networks. Accommodation and food service activities had the highest percentage of enterprises selling products or services via computer networks in 2012.
As regards the households, 69.7% had a personal computer in 2012, compared to 63.9% in 2011 and during the first quarter of 2012 61.8% of the households had internet access, compared to 57.4% in the same period of 2011.
The findings showed that 62.7% of the population between 16-74 years of age used a computer during the first quarter of 2012 and 57.8% of the population were regular internet users, meaning they accessed the internet at least once a week. The most popular activities were finding information about goods or services and sending or receiving emails.
The surveys also indicate that in 2012 there was an increase in the percentage of the population aged between 16-74 that ordered goods or services over the internet.
Regarding the use of internet technologies in the education sector, the statistical data show that in the academic year 2012-2013 there were 15.9% computer per 100 pupils in primary education, 28.5% in secondary education and 12.7% in tertiary education.
