Information and communication technologies (ICT)

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have progressed dramatically over the past decades and entered every part of life. We cannot imagine our society today without mobile phones, computers and the internet.
The branch of information and communication technologies has become one of the most dynamic economic sectors and its importance continues to increase. The ICT sector has a high potential for growth, thus offering many opportunities to both the economy and the population.

ICT in enterprises

In 2010, 82% of the enterprises in Germany had internet access and the majority of them used a DSL connection (2010: 82%, 2004: 31%). 62% of the enterprises with internet access had their own website, for example, to offer product catalogues and price lists or to enable their clients to interactively customise the desired products according to their own needs (for instance, product design or colour).

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ICT in private households

The use of computers for private purposes has grown over the past years. Whilst 62% of the private computer users used their PC every day or almost every day in 2003, that proportion rose to 77% by 2009. Internet usage, too, has increased markedly. The proportion of people using the internet for private purposes every day or almost every day grew by 24 percentage points from 2003 to 2009.

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