Mobile internet soars in popularity

Tuesday 25 October 2011

The number of people using mobile internet services has doubled over the past year, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.

A year ago, 21% of internet users also went online using their mobile phone or laptop, but that figure has now risen to 43%, the CBS said.

In total, 12.2 million out of the Dutch population of nearly 17 million use internet at home and six million people also access the internet via phone or laptop.

Almost 80% of internet users have bought goods or services online and half have used social media networks such as Facebook in the past three months, the survey shows.

Subscriptions

The soaring popularity of mobile internet has led mobile phone firms to bring in more expensive subscription packages to offset revenue lost as consumers switch to free services like Skype and WhatsApp.

Earlier on Tuesday, former state monopoly KPN said third-quarter revenues had fallen by €115m to €3.26bn partly due to the rise in mobile internet's popularity.

The costs of an ongoing reorganisation are also pressuring profits, the company said in a statement.

KPN warned earlier this year earnings would decline, as subscribers move away from paid-for text messaging services towards mobile internet.

The company introduced a new subscription package in September which it hopes will reverse the trend and 'remains on track' to meet its full year guidance, chief executive Eelco Blok said.

© DutchNews.nl

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