MCA Market Research Consumer Perception Survey Results Broadband Internet MCA December 2013
1. Purpose & Methodology
Purpose & Methodology Keep tabs on Internet services in Malta Provide for better analysis of Internet services Provide for better regulatory decisions Ernst & Young carried out the survey between August and October 2013 on behalf of the MCA Fieldwork Sample Responses Interviews were carried out by telephone lasting around 7 minutes The survey respondents were chosen randomly from the range of GO and Melita fixed telephone numbers Only one person per household was interviewed and all respondents were over 18 years old Targeted population was stratified according to the socio-economic classification of the Maltese population The interviews were also distributed among Malta s six official geographic regions 801 net respondents Any refusals / incomplete surveys were re-allocated to achieve a net sample of 801 interviewees Margin of error 3.45% at 95% confidence interval Slide 3
2. Computer & Internet Access in Households
Internet Access in Maltese Households 68% Do you have Internet access at home? Sample Size 801 92% If no, are you considering getting access to the Internet? Sample Size 162 [2007 56%] [2011 68%] 80% 32% 8% 93% [2011 92%] 20% 7% Yes Yes No 93% of households with no Internet access fall within the D/E socio economic category. 85% are retired No Computer illiterate Price is too high No one needs it Don't have a computer at home 3% 1% 30% [2011 8%] Yes 71% Yes No No If no, what is the reason for not getting Internet access? Sample Size 150 (each respondent could give more than one reason) Slide 5
Computer Access in Maltese Households Number of household members using the internet at home Number of household members using the Internet at home [2011 15%] 15% 13% 22% 23% [2011 22%] Number of household members using the internet at home 7% [2011 7%] 6% 25% 17% 31% 41% [2011 25%] 23% Tablet 1 2 3 4 5+ 1 2 3 [2011 31%] 4 5+ Sample Size 639 Type of computer used at home? Laptop 66% Desktop 65% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Slide 6
3. Type of Internet Connection in Households
Type of Internet Connection What type of Internet connection do you have at home? 60% 54% 50% 44% Sample Size 639 40% 30% 20% 10% 1% 1% 0% ADSL Cable Wimax Don't Know Disclaimer: These are the results of the survey carried out with private households and which exclude business subscriptions. These survey results do not represent the actual market share figures. Slide 8
Internet Connection Speed (1) 81.4% [2011 76%] Sample Size 639 81.4% More than 80% of households with Internet access do not know what connection speed they have 2.8% 3.1% 3.8% 2.8% 3.1% 3.8% 0.6% 1.4% 1.1% 0.5% 1.1% 0.5% 1.3% 1.1% 0.9% 0.2% 1.4% 1.1% 0.5% 1.1% 0.5% 0.3% 1.1% 0.9% 0.6% 1.3% 0.2% 0.3% <4Mbps 4Mbps 6Mbps 8Mbps 10Mbps 12Mbps 15Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 30Mbps 50Mbps 60Mbps 100Mbps >100Mbps Don't Know <4Mbps 4Mbps 6Mbps 8Mbps 10Mbps 12Mbps 15Mbps 20Mbps 25Mbps 30Mbps 50Mbps 60Mbps 100Mbps >100Mbps Don't Know Slide 9
Internet Connection Speed (2) Do you feel that this download speed is adequate for your needs? Sample Size 613 (excluding respondents with 50/60/75/100 Mbps) 64% 64% Yes No, price is too expensive If No, no, don't are need you that kind interested of speed in subscribing to No, actual speed would be much lower than advertised a very high speed service (e.g. 50Mbps)? Don't know Sample Size 101 21% 2% 11% 26% 41% 19% 19% 16% 16% Yes, more than enough Yes, adequate No, inadequate Yes, more than enough Yes, adequate No, inadequate Despite the majority of households not knowing what type of Internet speed they have, 83% think it is adequate for their needs. Yes No, price is too expensive No, don't need that kind of speed No, actual speed would be much lower than advertised Don't know Slide 10
Internet Connection Speed (3) What would you use such a high speed connection for? 70% 60% 68% Sample Size 41 (households that are not satisfied with their download speed and consider upgrading to higher levels) 50% 40% 30% 22% 32% 24% 20% 10% 0% Better overall internet browsing TV streaming Video downloads Internet games Slide 11
Broadband Subscription Period Don't know 23% Sample Size 639 Contract already expired 9% 2 years 39% 12 Months 5% 6 Months 1% 3 Months 2% 1 Month 22% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Slide 12
4. Analysis on Internet Services in Malta
Movements in Internet Subscriptions In the last two years did you switch from one Internet service to another? Sample Size 639 9% of households with internet access switched from one Internet service to another over the last two years. In 2011, 13% of households claimed to have switched 91% 91% 3.4% of households switched from ADSL to cable Internet 3.9% of households switched from cable Internet to ADSL 9% Yes 9% No Yes No Slide 14
Ease of Switching between Internet Services 56% Do you think it is difficult to switch from one Internet service to another? Sample Size 639 56% Don't know Other reasons If yes, why? 2% 8% Sample Size 163 (each respondent could give more than one reason) 19% Exit fees My employer pays for internet 2% 12% 26% 19% Email address cannot be ported Internet service is part of a bundle 2% 12% Yes No Don't know Yes No Don't know Due to wiring, modem etc Customer Care not helpful 29% 37% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Slide 15
Sources of Information on Internet Services 40% Where do you usually get the information on Internet services, and related prices? 38% Sample Size 639 (each respondent could give more than one reason) 73% How easy is it to understand and choose a specific Internet service from this source? Sample Size 509: excl. those who never searched for such info. 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 29% 18% 12% 20% 73% 10% 16% 10% 5% 10% 0% Website Adverts on Media Customer Care Family/Friends Never searched for such info. 1% Very Easy Easy Difficult Not useful Very Easy Easy Difficult Not useful Slide 16
Choosing an Internet Service Provider What are the features you look for when choosing an Internet service provider? Other Reasons 4% Good customer care and children s influence on household choice are among the most mentioned reasons in this category Word of mouth Service Speed 3% 24% Sample Size 639 (each respondent could give more than one reason) Part of a bundle 14% Brand Name 4% Upload and Download limits Service Reliability Prices 8% 42% 55% Service Reliability is the highest determining factor when choosing between Internet service providers. Pricing is the 2 nd highest consideration 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Slide 17
Internet Quality of Service Satisfaction (1) How satisfied are you with the quality of your Internet connection? Sample Size 639 79% of households with Internet access are satisfied or highly satisfied with the level of service [82% in 2011] 27% 1% 4% 16% 44% of households that are satisfied or highly satisfied with the quality of Internet services are ADSL subscribers [57% in 2011]. 53% are cable [36% in 2011]. 52% Least Satisfied Highly Satisfied Slide 18
Internet Quality of Service Satisfaction (2) If you are not satisfied with the quality of your Internet connection, why is it so? 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% Sample Size 133 (each respondent could give more than one reason) 37% 49% 20% 15% 10% 11% 8% 5% 5% 0% Download speed is slower than advertised Poor customer care Download limit is too little Connection often goes off Other Slide 19
5. Pricing Analysis
Pricing Analysis (1) Would you change your broadband connection 65% if the subscription charges increase by 10% on a monthly basis? 65% Sample Size 639 25% Other Reasons Satisfied with current service 7% 7% If no, why? Sample Size 163 (each respondent could give more than one reason) 10% 25% Switching is inconvenient 18% 10% Internet forms part of a bundle 20% Due to wiring, modem 9% Yes No Don't know Yes No Don't know Price changes are minimal 36% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Slide 21
Pricing Analysis (2) 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% Are you aware of the price you are 66% paying for your broadband subscription? Only 23% of households claim to know how much they are paying for their broadband service [37% in 2011] 62% Sample Size 639 20% 12% 15% 10% 0% 5% 4% 1% 0% 1% 24% 4% 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60+ Part of a bundle Don't know 6% [2011 68%] 66% Sample Size 150 If yes, do you consider the price you pay... [2011 28%] 24% 4% 6% Expensive Reasonable Cheap Don't know [2011 2%] Slide 22
The Internet in Everyday Life How important is the Internet in ones life? Sample Size 639 5% Only 10% of households with Internet access think they don t need it [16% in 2011] 5% 14% 54% 22% Around 76% of households with Internet access today find that they cannot live without it [66% in 2011] Don t need it Cannot live without it Slide 23
6. Main Highlights
Main Highlights (1) 80% of respondents have Internet access at home considerable development compared to 56% in 2007 Of the 20% that do not have Internet, 85% claim to be retired. 93% have been classified to fall within the D/E socio-economic category No visible trends linking certain geographic regions in Malta with low Internet take up Of the 20% that do not have Internet, only 7% are considering getting access in the future Only 1% mention affordability as a reason for not getting Internet access in the future More than 80% of households with Internet access do not know what connection speed they have Despite the majority of households not knowing what type of Internet speed they have, 83% think it is adequate for their needs 9% of households with internet access switched from one Internet service to another over the last two years. In 2011, 13% of households claimed to have switched Service Reliability is the highest determining factor when choosing between Internet service providers. Pricing is the 2nd highest consideration Slide 25
Main Highlights (2) 79% of households with Internet access are satisfied or highly satisfied with the level of service [82% in 2011] 44% of households that are satisfied or highly satisfied with the quality of Internet services are ADSL subscribers [57% in 2011]. 53% are cable [36% in 2011] 65% of households would change their broadband connection if the subscription charges increase by 10% on a monthly basis Only 23% of households claim to know how much they are paying for their broadband service [37% in 2011] 66% of those who know how much they are paying for their broadband service perceive the cost to be reasonable Around 76% of households with Internet access today find that they cannot live without it [66% in 2011] Slide 26
Thank You Malta Communications Authority Valletta Waterfront, Pinto Wharf, Floriana, FRN 1913 Tel: (+356) 21 336 840 Fax: (+356) 21 336 846