According to the Leichtman Research Group, 85% of U.S. households get an Internet service at home, compared to 84% in 2014 and 80% in 2009. Broadband accounts for 96% of households with an Internet service at home, and 82% of all households get a broadband Internet service - an increase from 79% in 2014 and 71% in 2009.
In addition, 81% of adults access the Internet on a smartphone (and an additional 1% access the Internet on another type of mobile phone), up from 63% in 2014. Overall, 75% of households now get Internet service both at home and on a mobile phone, an increase from 59% in 2014.
The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,121 households from throughout the United States and are part of LRG's study, "Broadband Internet in the U.S. 2019," LRG's 17th annual study on the topic.
Other findings indicate:
- 10% of households only get Internet service at home - compared to 25% in 2014.
- 50% not online at home access the Internet on a mobile phone (and an additional 2% access the Internet on another type of mobile phone), representing 8% overall.
- 86% of households use at least one laptop or desktop computer - 93% of this group get an Internet service at home.
- 54% of those not online at home do not use a laptop or desktop at home.
- 50% with an Internet service at home watch video online daily, compared to 29% in 2014 and 16% in 2009.
- Among adults with an Internet service at home, the mean time spent online at home is 3.7 hours per day, up from 2.8 hours per day in 2014 and 2.2 hours per day in 2009.
"This year's study demonstrates a growing reliance on broadband Internet services in the home, with an increase in the time spent online at home, including the frequency of watching Internet-delivered video," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for LRG. "It is most common for home Internet service to be complemented by Internet service on a mobile phone. Three-quarters of households now get Internet service both at home and on a mobile phone, while the segment opting to solely access the Internet on a mobile phone has plateaued."
