Wednesday 25 May 2011

Stats Can Internet Survey

Statistics Canada has released its most recent Canadian Internet Use Survey. the full report is available at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110525/dq110525b-eng.htm.

In my opinion, this is probably the single most important document affecting national policy decision about the roll-out of universal Internet access in Canada.

There are some interesting conclusions in the report about availability. access, and usage. I am sure the report will generate a lot comments in various places.

This is a major note from the report. Note the definition of CMA.

Note to readers

The 2010 Canadian Internet Use Survey, sponsored by Industry Canada, was conducted in October and November as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey.

Redesigned for 2010, this survey now consists of a household component, which measures home access, and an individual component, which measures online behaviours.

This release features home Internet access, based on a sample of about 30,000 households. Data on individual online behaviours will be released later in 2011.

Definitions

The "Home Internet access" rate is the proportion of households with access to the Internet from home.

The survey asked about the type of "devices" used to access the Internet, including a desktop or laptop computer; a video games console; a BlackBerry, iPhone or other wireless handheld device; and other devices.

The "Home high-speed access" rate is the proportion of households with a self-reported high-speed connection to access the Internet from home.

A census metropolitan area (CMA) and a census agglomeration (CA) consist of one or more neighbouring municipalities situated around a major urban core. A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000, of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core. A CA must have an urban core population of at least 10,000.

The rate of home Internet access also varies by household size and composition