22.3: How people access the Internet

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People connect to the Internet and access content in many different ways. When it comes to the physical connection to the Internet, the market presents a number of options:

Dial-up
3G and 4G connection
Wi-Fi and WiMAX
Broadband
ADSL.

The list goes on. The devices people use vary from mobile phones and expensive tablets to personal notebooks and desktop computers. The environment that people are in when they access the Internet also differs:

At home
At the office or place of work
At libraries and education centres
In Internet cafes and coffee shops
On the go.

Not only do these environmental factors affect how people use the Internet, but their reasons for using the Internet also have an effect on how they interact online.

For some people, the Internet is primarily a communications channel, and their online activity is focused on social media or their email inbox, while for others it may be a research channel, with search engines playing a large role in their online experience.