Smartphones have edged ahead of laptops as U.K. consumers’ preferred device for getting online, it emerged on Thursday.
According to regulator Ofcom’s latest Communications Market Report, 33% of Internet users consider their smartphone to be the most important device for accessing the Web, compared to 30% who still prefer a laptop.
In 2014, 22% of consumers preferred their smartphone while 40% preferred their laptop.
Driving this trend is the surge in smartphone ownership, Ofcom said. Two thirds of U.K. adults now own one, compared to 39% in 2012. Smartphone ownership is highest among 16-24 year olds, with 90% owning one, compared to 50% of 55-64 year olds.
Ofcom’s research also revealed a surge over the last decade in the amount of time people spend accessing the Web. In 2005, Internet users aged 16 or over said they spent just under 10 hours per week online. In 2014, it had jumped to more than 20 hours and 30 minutes.
With 4G uptake on the rise, consumers look set to spend even more time on the Internet.
Ofcom found that 89.5% of U.K. premises are covered by at least one 4G network, with 42% of the population within reach of all four 4G providers.
The number of 4G subscribers stands at approximately 23.6 million, and those who have a 4G device are using them to do more online.
55% of 4G users shop on the Internet via their smartphones compared to 35% of non-4G u sers. For online banking, the split is 55% versus 33%. 57% of 4G users watch TV and video compared to 40% of non-4G users.
"Today’s report shows just how important reliable, fast Internet access is to millions of consumers and businesses," said Ofcom CEO Sharon White, in a statement.
In terms of the sector’s financial health, Ofcom found that telco revenues fell 2% in the 12 months to the end of December 2014 to £37.4 billion, due to falling wholesale service revenue.
However, healthy fibre uptake resulted in fixed Internet revenues in the residential and SME market climbing to £4.9 billion from £4.2 billion in 2013.
