Arcep and Arcom publish the third edition of their digital usage benchmark
Arcep and Arcom have published the third edition of their joint reference guide to digital usage. This new edition updates and completes the reference data on digital uses and practices in France.
The digital usage benchmark, the result of collaboration between Arcep and Arcom within the "Pôle Numérique Commun", provides figures on fixed network rollouts, mobile network coverage, Internet access, household equipment, Internet usage, the environmental impact of digital technology, and audiovisual and cultural practices.
This third edition of the benchmark highlights new themes such as the deployment of 5G networks, connected object equipment, the development of internet traffic to the main internet service providers, music livestreaming, the uses of online photo searches or blocking sites that diffuse sports illegally.
Very high-speed fixed and mobile broadband: fiber optic contracts in the majority in France, and Internet usage still increasing rapidly
One of the key findings is the continuing strong increase in the number of very-high-speed contracts on fixed networks (65% at the end of the third quarter of 2022, +9 points in one year). The number of fiber-optic contracts reached 17.1 million on September 30, 2022, representing 54% of all high-speed and ultra-high-speed contracts (+11 points in one year). At the same time, Internet usage continues to increase sharply. Incoming traffic to the main ISPs rose by 25% year-on-year in the second half of 2021, although this was less than in the second half of 2020 (+50%).
Ever more connected and better equipped households and individuals
The 2023 benchmark notes that the TV set remains the leading equipment in households, and that 84% of the installed base is connected to the Internet [1]. The number of SVOD services users continues to increase, with an average of 9.4 million daily users in the second half of 2022 [2]. Conversely, illegal use is declining significantly for sports, thanks in particular to measures taken by Arcom to fight agains this practice (-8 points in 2022), as well as for films and TV series (-6 points in 2022).
Other digital equipment is also showing signs of diffusion among the population: this is the case, for example, of connected speakers with voice assistants, or more generally of connected objects. The number of rights holders will increase by 7 points to 40% by 2020.
More generally, this edition of the benchmark highlights the development of new online cultural practices: by 2022, almost half of all Internet users had already consumed music livestream content, supplies for which have expanded considerably during the health crisis. The previous year, nearly 8 out of 10 Internet users had done a search for photos on the Internet.
The digital usage benchmark also addresses the issue of the environmental footprint of our practices.
In 2020, the digital sector will account for 2.5% of the national carbon footprint, with terminals accounting for the majority of this impact (80%).
Some efforts have been made to reduce the digital fingerprint. For example, the greenhouse gas emissions of the main electronic communications operators have decreased since 2018. In fact, the reduction in their direct emissions, thanks in particular to the optimization of company vehicle fleets and improvements in energy efficiency, has more than offset the growth in their indirect emissions, linked to the uninterrupted increase in network energy consumption, with continued rollouts and growth in usage.
At the same time, the benchmark reveals that only 13% of cell phones were purchased reconditioned, and 10% of main TV sets were bought second-hand. So there are still levers to be activated to extend the lifespan of our terminals.
To find out more about the "Pôle numérique commun Arcep - Arcom", click here.
Click herefor the complete reference document
About Arcep
The Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques, des postes et de la distribution de la presse, an expert and neutral arbitrator with the status of an independent administrative authority, is the architect and guardian of France's Internet, fixed, mobile and postal telecoms networks.
About Arcom
Arcom is an independent public authority that guarantees freedom of communication. Its mission is to ensure that the public has access to a plurality of audiovisual supplies that respect rights and freedoms, to defend creativity and to contribute to the fight agains unlawful and problematic content on the Internet.
[1] Connected TV sets accessing the Internet via an Internet Service Provider TV decoder, Smart TV, connected game console, third-party box (OTT) and/or computer.
[2] After a period of stability in the average number of daily SVOD services users between the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022, this figure starts to rise again in the second half of 2022, representing a penetration rate of 17.5% of individuals aged 15 and over - Source: Médiamétrie Global Vidéo/ 37 500.
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