Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

While only six per cent of Jamaican households are still without some form of telephone service, a whopping 73 per cent of households still do not have access to the Internet, a recent survey shows.

According to an Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR)-commissioned survey, 94.4 per cent of households in Jamaica have access to telephone, with mobile phones topping the list at 64 per cent.

Fixed and mobile accounted for 27 per cent, while three per cent had fixed only. The survey was conducted by PSEARCH Associates Limited.

Cable and Wireless remained the dominant provider of fixed line connections, dominating the market with 98.6 per cent, while Digicel rules the cellphone market with 87 per cent.

Internet access

Of the 26.9 per cent of households which have Internet access, 7.4 per cent was home only; 5.9 per cent both home and office; 3.6 per cent, other locations such as school and library, while friends was 9.9 per cent.

According to the survey, the access varied by geographic location, parish and income levels.

"Comparative figures for the Kingston Metropolitan Area were surprising, but likely explained by higher proportions employed. St. Mary, Westmoreland and Clarendon showed unusually high access levels, much accounted for by "other" locations," the survey explained.

When contacted, Phillip Paulwell, the Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, said that while only 27 per cent have direct access, the access is shared with a number of persons.

"For each Internet connection the average number of persons with access is between six and eight. A lot more are using the Internet than that figure indicates," Mr. Paulwell contended.

The Technology Minister noted that with broadband access, both wireless and wired, scheduled to be available islandwide by year end, the number of access will increase significantly.

Cheaper computers

"There will be cheaper computers, and triple-play facilities where the same medium will enable telephone, broadcast and Internet access," Mr Paulwell explained.

Companies such as Flow and Jamaica Network Access Point will provide the service.

The survey was administered to 974 households and 187 commercial respondents.