70% of homes in North have broadband
Nearly three-quarters of homes in the North have broadband, it was revealed today.
More people are visiting social networking sites, watching television and making calls over the internet, according to a new communications regulator report. However, many of the broadband users claimed they were not getting value for money.
People living in rural areas were more likely to take up broadband, mobile phones and satellite television.
Regulator Ofcom director Denis Wolinski said: "Over the last four years, we have seen Northern Ireland catch up and in some cases overtake the rest of the UK in the use of the latest communications services."
Around 70% of homes have broadband, an increase of 6% from last year and putting the North on a par with the rest of the UK.
Over a third of people use social networking sites or watch television online and 15% of households make phone or video calls over the internet.
The report also said that people in the North watched less television than the UK average - three and a half hours per person per day.
It said consumers in Northern Ireland were less satisfied with their home phone, mobile and broadband services than consumers elsewhere in the UK yet are also less likely to switch their provider.
Only 74% of those asked in the North said they were very or fairly satisfied with the value for money of their broadband service.
Ofcom also highlighted the low level of television production in the North as a matter of concern.
The amount of money spent by the BBC and UTV on television programming for the North and the number of hours produced fell in the last year.
BBC Northern Ireland and UTV's combined spend on television programmes in 2009 was £25m (€30.3m), down 11% from £28m (€34m) in 2008 and down 41% over the past five years.
The number of hours produced reduced to 969 hours last year, down 15% from the previous year.
Wallace Ewart, chair of Ofcom's advisory committee for the North, said on a whole, the findings were positive. But he said there were issues to be addressed.
"The low level of TV production in Northern Ireland is a matter of concern for us and others but we welcome the steps that some of the broadcasters are taking to address the issue and we note the significant talent that there is in the local production sector here," he added.
Michael Wilson, managing director at UTV Television, said: "UTV invests close to £10m (€12.1m) a year on public service programming producing the most watched regional news in the whole of the UK - UTV Live at 6.
"In addition, we introduced a new late night news and current affairs programme UTV Live Tonight which is proving hugely popular with viewers and opinion makers alike.
"Our commitment to public service broadcasting and quality news and current affairs has never been stronger and is greater than any other ITV region."
