Out of context, it's a funny pull quote: "Internet usage is up due to an increase in job searches." A sad commentary on the state of the times.
However, in context, it makes for a good example of one small element of usage behavior that is driving increased Internet traffic, in the face of a global economic crunch.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) says that that nearly a quarter of the world's 6.7 billion people use the Internet, with use more than doubling from 11% in 2002.
Jonathan Wright, Director of Wholesale Products at Interoute, owner operator of Europe's largest next-generation network, had this to say:
"Internet usage is simply reflective of global demographics. Whilst the digital divide is ever present, demands on telecom providers are from both sides. On the one hand, established Internet users are demanding higher capacity connectivity due to their engagement with more sophisticated uses of the internet applications like peer to peer and social networking sites that require higher bandwidth support from access technologies. And, on the other hand, the entry of new users driving initially less sophisticated demands for internet access from economies like China and India is exploding.
"The Internet explosion will not be interrupted by the economic downturn in the developed world. Indeed we have seen an upturn in internet traffic from access providers who connect to residential customers. This can partly be attributed to the fact that consumers are being offered flat fee tariffs and are coming reliant on the information they pull from the Web, whether than be from shopping sites, financial websites, job searches, social networking or peer to peer sites. This growth trend will no doubt continue over the coming year."
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