Two-thirds of Irish firms have an online presence


7 Dec 2009

Two-thirds of Irish firms now have an online presence, new statistics released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.

The CSO’s information society statistics shows that 66pc of Irish firms had a website or a homepage in 2009.

Online connection

Internet use is nearly universal for Irish businesses, according to the CSO report, with 95pc of Irish enterprises having a computer connected to the internet in 2009.

Access to the internet using broadband remained high in 2009, with 84pc of all businesses having a broadband connection.

High-speed DSL broadband saw a boost in 2009, with 45pc of enterprises using it compared with 41pc in 2008.

Mobile broadband use by Irish firms has also increased, with 27pc of businesses using it in 2009 compared to 24pc in 2008.

DSL use declines

With firms pushing ahead with new technologies, there has been a corresponding decline in the use of lower-speed DSL broadband and other fixed connections.

The CSO’s statistics are based on a survey of e-commerce and ICT usage by Irish firms which was conducted in the first half of 2009. The survey covered businesses with 10 or more employees in the manufacturing and selected services sectors and firms with 20 or more employees in the construction sector.

Article courtesy of businessandleadership.com

Photo: Nearly 100pc of Irish businesses have a computer connected to the internet, Central Statistics Office figures indicate.