The level of Internet usage shows extremely dynamic variations when the average usage for the country is compared with the average usage in Sofia. Speaking of Bulgaria at large only a quarter of the population uses Internet at all, and only in Sofia every third interviewed said they use Internet every day.
The differences are similar as regards the home computers and home Internet.
In Sofia the saturation with home PCs is twice the country’s average. The only indicators where the values for the country and for Sofia are the same is the paid access to computer clubs – apparently, this still is a significant alternative to the home internet outside Sofia.
Internet is popular for both personal and business purposes and the users are discovering a growing number of its applications in their daily lives. The most essential difference sin the usage patterns in the country and in Sofia were distinguished along the lines of electronic mail, online games, and e-payments and shopping. All three options are significantly more popular in Sofia than elsewhere.
Roughly 120 000 Bulgarians use Internet for shopping and payments and only in Sofia their number is 50 000.
The offering of integrated solutions (Internet and telephony), parallel with the outlined trends in the development of the three markets (mobile and landline telephony, Internet) will determine the future development of the telecommunications sector. Last but not least, parallel with the penetration of the alternative wireless web networks these new solutions will occupy the leading role in the competition for corporate clients – a “battle” that is coming along on the domestic telecommunications market.
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