RAMALLAH, November 12, 2010 (WAFA) – A noticeable increase in internet use took place among Palestinians in the Palestinian Territory during the last two years, according to a Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) survey on Saturday.
PCBS conducted the fourth Household Survey on ICT during the period 5 from July 2011 – August 2011 using a random sample of 4,448 households (3,048 households in the West Bank and 1,400 households in the Gaza Strip).
In addition to households, the survey also targeted individuals aged 10 years and over.
The survey showed that 50.9% of Palestinian households in 2011 have a computer, compared to 49.2% in 2009: 53.2% in the West Bank and 46.5% in the Gaza Strip.
The results showed that 30.4% of households in the Palestinian Territory have an Internet connection, compared to 28.5% in 2009, of which 30.6% are in the West Bank and 30.0% in the Gaza Strip.
The percentage of households with a satellite dish was 93.9% compared with 92.0% in 2009: 95.9% in the West Bank and 90.1% in the Gaza Strip.
The results also indicated that 44.0% of households in the Palestinian Territory have a phone line compared with 47.5% in 2009: 45.3% in the West Bank and 41.6% in the Gaza Strip.
Data showed that 95.0% of households in the Palestinian Territory have a mobile phone in 2011: 95.1% in the West Bank and 94.7% in the Gaza Strip.
The results indicated that 53.7% of individuals aged 10 years and over in the Palestinian Territory use a computer in 2011: 54.8% in the West Bank and 51.7% in the Gaza Strip, with 58.5% of males and 48.7% of females.
In 2009, the percentage of individuals who used a computer was 57.1%.
Data showed that 49.4% of households without a computer cited the reason as the high cost involved: 49.3% in the West Bank and 49.6% in the Gaza Strip.
A further 23.2% stated that the reason was that no one in the family had skills to use the computer: 19.0% in the West Bank and 30.4% in the Gaza Strip.
The results indicated that 39.6% of individuals aged 10 years and over in the Palestinian Territory use the Internet, compared with 32.3% of individuals aged 10 years and over were using the Internet in 2009.
The percentage of persons 10 years and over who use a computer through internet use was 69.8% in 2011: 68.3% in the West Bank and 72.5% in the Gaza Strip; use of the Internet varies between males and females: 72.7% and 66.2% respectively.
The results of the survey also indicated that 85.7% of individuals use the Internet to access information, 49.3% use the Internet for studying, 69.1% for communication purposes, and 79.3% use the Internet for fun and entertainment.
Moreover, about one-fifth (18.2%) of individuals aged 10 years and over use the Internet for work. These results were almost the same as those for 2009.
The percentage of individuals aged 10 years and over who have an e-mail account was 27.5% in the Palestinian Territory in 2011, compared with 21.3% in 2009.
The results also showed that 47.0% of individuals who use the Internet were exposed to a virus while surfing the Internet, while 9.3% were exposed to file damage, 7.3% of individuals had their personal information stolen, and 1.1% had their personal credit card details stolen.
M.H./F.J.
