Use of social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter in Northern Ireland has doubled since 2008 with half of people accessing them regularly, it has been revealed.
Customers are going online for everyday needs and tasks, with half watching television, video or checking bank accounts, and a third searching for information on health-related issues.
Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report said more people were embracing the internet.
Ofcom Northern Ireland director Jonathan Rose said: “Over the last five 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.”
Since 2008, broadband penetration in Northern Ireland has risen to 75 per cent, making the region second only to England among the UK regions for take-up.
The 5 per cent increase from last year reflects increasing speeds, with the roll-out of super-fast broadband across Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular enjoying lightning speeds.
Consumer satisfaction with speeds increased significantly over the last year, with 83 per cent claiming to be fairly or very satisfied, 13 per cent more than last year. Urban customers were more satisfied than rural counterparts.
Northern Ireland has benefited in recent years from extensive investment in the telecoms infrastructure by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, BT and other operators.
Ofcom conducted 511 interviews in Northern Ireland last winter, split between urban and rural areas.
Results included:
* 47% use social networking sites regularly compared to 22% in 2008
* 53% watch television or video online
* 51% use internet banking
* 32% access health information online
* Broadband penetration stands at 75%
* 92% use a mobile phone, almost a quarter a smartphone like iPhone or Blackberry
Northern Ireland leads the way across the UK for sending text messages, taking photos with mobile phones, sending photo messages and playing games on their mobiles.
Digital TV take-up has increased — a year before the analogue signal is switched off nine out of 10 already have the service. Two-thirds of TV homes pay for television, many because of sports channels.
The combined number of TV hours produced for Northern Ireland viewers rose to 1,007 but radio continues to be the most popular medium, with a fifth using it as their primary news source.
There was an increase in the take-up of digital radio services, but it remains less popular than the UK average.
Satisfaction with mobile coverage is high, with 89 per cent happy but this figure drops in rural areas.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle remains the number one listened to radio station in Northern Ireland with an average weekly audience of 591,000 listeners tuning in each week, according to the latest RAJAR (Radio Joint Audio Research) figures for the second quarter of this year.
These figures show an increase of 59,000 listeners to the station year on year and an increase of 26,000 listeners quarter on quarter.
PA