The rise in Internet use is continuing to rise. 3.2 million Israelis aged 13 and over now use the Internet, compared with 2.5 million in November 2003. Over one million Jewish households, 64%, have Internet hook-up, of which 88%, or over 900,000 households, have high-speed Internet, according to a TNS Teleseker Internet Monitor (TIM) survey for the autumn of 2004.
The survey found that 82% of Internet users go online daily, compared with 74% in November 2003, which means that 2.6 million Israelis aged 13 and over are online every day. 42% of respondents say they surf at least ten hours a week, compared with 36% in November 2003. Israeli Internet users aged 13 and over amount to 47% of Israel's total population (3.2 million out of 6.8 million), and 63% of the population aged 13 and over, compared with 36% of the total population and 48% of the population aged 13 and over in November 2003.
The periodic TIM survey is conducted among an up-to-date representative nationwide sample of Internet users aged 13 and over. The present survey included 849 respondents, comprising Jewish Internet users throughout the country. The present survey is the ninth since early 2000.
For the purposes of the survey, TIM considers an Internet user to be a person who uses any online service (e-mail, web-surfing, e-commerce, etc.) at any frequency and from any location (home, office, school, etc.).
93% of Internet users surf from home and 60% outside the home: 35% at the office, 15% at school or university, and 27% from other locations. 7% of Internet users do not surf at home, but only from other locations.
The Internet is still mainly used to seek information and data. 93% of Internet users say this is their primary use, 84% use e-mail, 74% read online newspapers, 65% download content and files, and 48% carry out banking and financial transactions. The present survey found a clear rise in Internet use for sending and receiving e-mail, reading online newspapers, and carrying out banking and financial transactions, compared with previous years.
E-commerce is growing. The present survey found that 42% of all Internet users, amounting to a fifth of Israel's population, regularly buy or order goods and services via the Internet. 45% of respondents said they bought or ordered something during the past year, and 16% said they bought something in the past month. The corresponding percentages in November 2003 were 38% and 13%.
A breakdown of Internet users by population segment found that the largest group of users were men aged up to 39, with a high school or higher education and above average income. Men aged 30-49 with higher education and above average income are the largest group of online shoppers, accounting for 62% of all purchases.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on December 13, 2004