Huge gap between rural and urban areas in terms of Internet access

A market survey conducted by Gallup in 2010 reveals the huge gap that separates urban and rural areas in Romania: 78% of families that live in the countryside do not have access to the Internet and 47% do not have a fixed line.

In 48% of the households in rural areas there is no computer, while 40% of households have a desktop PC. Most Romanian households (56%) do not have Internet access, while most of those who do have access (39%) use the fixed line.

Mobile phone usage (2%) and combined fixed line-mobile access (3%) are niche services.

A comparison between Gallup research conducted in September 2006 and in March-April of 2010 shows how much prices of telecom services have fallen, both amid the crisis and amid tough market competition. For instance, the average monthly fixed line bill was 42.8 lei in 2011, down 18% against 2006. The average mobile phone call plan fell 38% against 2006, from 83.5 to 52 lei, according to Gallup.