QUESTIONNAIRE: ICT / MOBILE / BROADBAND PROVISION AND USAGE
WITHIN RURAL NORTHERN IRELAND (HOUSEHOLD VERSION)
Access to Information Communications Technology (ICT) and modern communications in
rural areas is often an emotive issue. The potential benefits of good access have been
much discussed. However, access to these services varies considerably across rural
Northern Ireland.
This questionnaire seeks to gather YOUR VIEWS and YOUR EXPERIENCES on accessing
ICT, Mobile and Broadband services within your household.
The questionnaire aims to:

Demonstrate the reality of access to ICT/Mobile/Broadband provision within households
across rural Northern Ireland;

Demonstrate the potential benefits of accessing and utilising such services;

Provide evidence to feed into the implementation of current and future rural development
policies and programmes; and potential funding opportunities.
We would be pleased if you could take the time to complete the questionnaire and return to the
address listed at the end of the questionnaire by FRIDAY 29TH MARCH 2013.
SECTION 1 – ABOUT YOUR HOUSEHOLD:
Please provide your
full postcode:
Are you
Male
Female
How many people reside in your household?
Please indicate the age profile of your household:
How many are aged between....
0-5
5-11
11-18
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 -74
75+
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SECTION 2 – MOBILE PHONE USAGE:
Does anyone in the household own/have access to a mobile phone?
Yes
No
If yes, how many members of the household own/access a mobile phone?
Please indicate the mobile phone provider(s) within your household?
O2
Vodafone
EE (t-mobile/Orange)
Other
How satisfied is your household with the service provided?
SECTION 3 – COMPUTERS IN YOUR HOME:
A. Does your household have a desktop PC, laptop, netbook, tablet computer or
smartphone?
Desktop PC
Laptop
Netbook
Tablet computer – e.g. iPad
No
Smartphone
Don’t know
B. Do you have access to the internet at home (via any device, e.g. PC, mobile phone
etc)?
Yes
No
Don’t know
Proceed to Section 3A if you HAVE home internet access;
Proceed to Section 3B if you DO NOT HAVE home internet access.
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SECTION 3A – INTERNET ACCESS WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD
A. How often is the internet used within your household?
Every day
Several times a week
At least once a month
Never
At least once a week
A few times a year
Less than once a year
Don’t know
B. What is the main method of connection? (Please tick one only)
Ordinary phone line – dial-up access
Fixed Broadband through a phone line or cable service – perhaps using a Wi-Fi
router
Superfast Fixed Broadband service
Mobile Broadband from a mobile network – connecting via a USB stick or
dongle, or built-in connectivity in a laptop or netbook or
tablet computer with
a SIM card
Access to the internet using a mobile phone or smartphone through a Wi-Fi
network or your phone’s mobile network
ISDN line – mid speed access, allows you to make voice calls at the same time
as using the Internet
Satellite service
Radio broadband services eg North West Electronics
Other
Don’t know
C. Which internet service provider does your household use?
.........................................................................................................................................
D. Approximately how much does your household pay for your main internet service per
month? (Please circle)
£0 – £10
£10 – £20
£20 – £30
£30 - £40
£40+
Don’t know
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E. What is the actual speed of your main home internet connection?
(You can check your speed using any of the following tools:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics/ www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html/ www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk
www.broadband.co.uk/broadband-speed-test)
Less than 2 Mbps
2Mbps – 4Mbps
4Mbps – 8Mbps
16Mbps - 20Mbps
20Mbps- 40Mbps
40Mbps - 100Mbps
Over 100Mbps
Don’t know
F. What activities do your household access the internet for? Tick all that apply
Shopping
Leisure (e.g. download music/movies, online gaming, TV catchup)
Educational (e.g. research/homework)
Communication (e.g. email, skype)
Online banking/Other financial services (e.g. bill payment)
Trading (e.g. Ebay, Gumtree)
Online interaction with government departments
Other: _____________________________________________________
G. Is your main internet connection faster, slower or about the same as you originally
expected? (Please tick)
Faster
Slower
About the same
Don’t know
H. If you have poor internet connection have you tried to address this? How does it
affect you/your family? Please detail your experiences below:
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SECTION 3B – NO INTERNET ACCESS WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD
A. Have you tried to get an internet connection within the household?
Yes
No
Not interested
B. If you have tried, what has stopped you from having an internet connection? Tick
all that apply:
Cost
Unable to get equipment working
No connection despite supplier trying to facilitate
No supplier
Other
Please detail your experiences:-
C. If you were able to access a fast and reliable internet connection, what would your
household use it for?
Shopping
Leisure (e.g. download music/movies, online gaming, TV catchup)
Educational (e.g. research)
Communication (e.g. email, skype)
Online banking/Other financial services (e.g. bill payment)
Trading (e.g. Ebay, Gumtree)
Online interaction with government departments
Other:_________________________________________________
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SECTION 4 – GENERAL COMMENTS:
Do you have any other comments in relation to your experiences, both positive and
negative about ICT, Mobile or Broadband provision?
Thank you for completing this questionnaire. Please return to the address
below before Friday 29th March 2013.
To be returned to:
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