Mobile broadband access (firms)

Definition

Share of organisations (or: enterprises, or: establishments) having mobile broadband access to the Internet

Unit of observation

Organisations or enterprises or establishments (recommended)

Reporting unit

IT managers (in smaller organisations: owners or general managers) or person with IT responsibility

Operationalisation

Survey question (adapted from Eurostat model survey): “Did your enterprise have the following types of external connection to the Internet, in the reference period?

  • Narrowband mobile connection (e.g. analogue mobile phone, GSM)
  • Broadband mobile connection (GPRS, UMTS, EDGE, CDMA2000, 1xEVDO)”

Complementary indicators

  • Share of staff having mobile broadband access to the Internet for work purposes
  • Prices for mobile services basket

Relation to existing indicators

The Eurostat model survey captures whether enterprises have mobile access to the Internet, but does not (yet) distinguish between narrowband and broadband access.

Methodological issues concerning application of the indicator

The real value from mobile broadband access is likely to emerge when (mobile) workers are given mobile access to broadband Internet whenever and wherever they are located. This needs to be captured as well.

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