70 per cent of UK households have internet access

63 per cent of UK households now have broadband

More than 18 million homes in the UK now have internet access, representing 70 per cent of UK households, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS study also shows that 63 per cent of UK households have a broadband connection, compared to 56 per cent in 2008.

The number of adults going online in 2009 was 37.4 million, a 10 per cent increase from 2008, with the 16-24 age group having the highest level of access at 96 per cent.

However, although the 65-plus age bracket had the lowest level of access at 30 per cent, it showed the highest increase in access of any group at 15 per cent, while 16-24-year-olds registered an increase of only three per cent, as that group approaches saturation.

Men were eight per cent more likely to go online during the past three months – 80 per cent versus 72 per cent for women.

The growth in wireless hotspot availability has also changed the way internet users go online. In 2007 the ONS statistics showed 700,000 people using wireless hotspots to access the web - in 2009 this rose to almost 2.5 million.

The statistics were generated through the ONS Opinions Survey, which recorded 1,200 interviews with adults over 16 living in private households.