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Access to the Internet in Canada continues to grow despite the recession, according to a new study by Ipsos-Reid. About 82% of Canadians now have Internet access, a 4% increase from a study in the fourth quarter of 2008 and a 6% increase from results in the second quarter of last year. Home Internet access was highest among Canadians aged 18 to 34 (89%), followed by those whose household members were between 35 and 54 (87%). Only 69% of people over the age of 55 had Internet access, however, they the fastest growing segment of online users. The proportion of older Canadians going online has grown from 57% in the first quarter of 2006. The vast majority of Canadians have high-speed Internet access with only 8% still using dial-up access. Mobile access is also a growing segment of Internet access with the rise of mobile broadband sticks, netbooks and smartphone usage. "We are beginning to see the newest wave of access through mobile devices," said Mark Laver, Ipsos-Reid associate vice-president. "This could be the next big growth phase for the Internet."
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