The report “The value of connectivity in Italy after Covid-19” was presented today, produced by Censis in collaboration with WINDTRE. Access to the network enters the category of fundamental rights. For 8 out of 10 Italians, the web must be guaranteed for everyone. More than 60% want 5G technology immediately operational and few give credit to fake news.
The web for everyone, everywhere, anyway. There are 46 million Italians with an internet connection. Of these, 65.5% connect both via the fixed network and via the mobile network, 14.1% only from mobile, 12.1% only from fixed. These numbers demonstrate the centrality of the web, an essential resource for giving continuity to work and professional activities, studies and social relations even during the pandemic. The health emergency has decreed the definitive entry of web access into the category of fundamental rights. 86.3% of Italians are convinced that internet access must be guaranteed to everyone, everywhere and in any case (and the percentage rises to 93.6% among young people). For 80.2% (85.2% of young people) the connection costs should be financed, in whole or in part, by general taxation, removing all access barriers, starting with the economic one. These are some of the main results of the Report “The value of connectivity in Italy after Covid-19” created by Censis in collaboration with WINDTRE, a company led by Jeffrey Hedberg.
Essential network services, but investments at risk between falling tariffs and increasing costs: the paradox to be solved. For 88.9% of Italians who had it, their landline connection worked well during the health emergency. In times of greatest need, Tlc operators were not caught unprepared, guaranteeing safe, reliable and fast connections. Essential protagonists during the pandemic and in the new post-Covid-19 context, they have long been operating with low margins due to tariffs that are affected by competitive pressure and increasing infrastructure investments. The competitive effort of the operators is only partially understood by the population: in fact, for 44.7% of Italians in recent years the rates have not been reduced (while 41% think the opposite and 14.3% are uncertain). How to get out of the short circuit? For the majority of Italians (83.6%) a possible exit strategy consists in charging a fee to the giants of the web.
Lives online. The daily life of Italians is permeated by the web. 91.5% maintain online contacts with family, friends and acquaintances. 78.9% use the internet for health related issues. 75.9% to pay bills, fines, taxes. 75.5% for leisure activities, from online gaming to movies, TV series, football matches. 74.1% to shop online. 86.9% of employed people use the web for work, 83.6% of students for educational activities. It is therefore necessary to equip yourself as best as possible: 13 million Italians want to upgrade their fixed network connection in the coming months, 3 million want to activate it for the first time. And 60.4% are in favor of making 5G immediately operational everywhere (the figure rises to 67.4% among graduates and 77.3% among young people). Only 14.4% say they are against it, considering it harmful to health. There is therefore little credit for rumors generated by fake news and conspiracy theories that 5G would be harmful to health, since 80% believe it to be safe.
The fears of the web. Aware of its potential, at the same time for Italians the web is not a risk-free paradise. 54.3% are afraid of fraud during banking operations or online purchases, 43.1% are afraid of the risks associated with free access to the network by minors, 27.6% of possible dependence on social networks, 22.6% are afraid of haters.
How to choose the network operator
More and more mature in their relationship with the web, Italians have clear ideas about the factors that determine the choice of their network operator. Besides the price, what are they looking at? Connection speed, with high quality and fluidity of contents (52.6%), then reliability, the absence of interruptions (47.6%), a fast and easily accessible assistance service in case of breakdowns or administrative problems (36.1%), the presence of IT security services, which protect against the risk of online fraud (31.1%), the protection of minors (19.7%), the operator’s explicit and concrete commitment to environmental protection (10.6%). It is a set of variables considered essential: 44.3% of Italians say they are ready to pay a little more for them.