Press-release

When looked at the history of development of the communication and information technologies in Azerbaijan it can be noted that a fundamental change has being observed in this direction in 2004. Since that time up to this day the highest development dynamics in the region have been observed and as a result, information and communication technologies are considered the second developed area in our country after the oil sector. According to the “index of net preparation” in the Global Information Technology report of the World Economical Forum 2009-2010 Azerbaijan has agreed upon 64th place among 133 countries of the world, and 1st place among countries of the CIS. According to the E-government survey of UN 2008 Azerbaijan has agreed upon the first place in the South Caucasus and 89th place among 182 countries.
Within last years average annual growth of income in the ICT sector accounted 30-35% in Azerbaijan. It is expected that the growth of income-level will continue to grow in the future and will reach the income-level obtained from the energy sector within a few years, and it is forecasted that even in 2018-2020 it will pass the income generated from the energy sector. From this point of view the approval of “State Program for development of communication and the information technologies in Azerbaijan Republic for 2010-2012 (Electron Government) "in august of the current year can be seen as the next important event and new stage of the sustainable policy. Investment into this sector has increased in comparison for other years and has amounted 163.6 millions manat in 2009.
Speedy development has been observed according to macroeconomic indicators of the last year in this area, however the government has not increased the price in order to stimulate this area. For example, prices of the Internet tariffs decreased three times at the beginning of the year.
Nationally important “People’s Computer” project was prepared and successfully was implemented both in the centre and in regions.
We would like to note that having had the history of 10 years Azerbaijan Marketing Society (AMS) as an official partner of World Economic Forum and International Trading Centre of the World Trade Organization in Azerbaijan carries out research and implements other intellectual-organizational issues. Intellectual group was formed around the Society for doing analytical and consulting work in the process of carrying out these projects and today it carries out researches on different important areas.
So, taking into account leading and priority area and high potential for the future of ICT sector for our country, and in order to check reliability of the existing statistical information AMS has implemented large-scaled research about the situation of the information and communication technologies in Azerbaijan in March-June, 2010. The implemented project being based on corresponding methodological approach has directed to the population of the Azerbaijan Republic and to its behaviour in the attitude to the ICT and encompasses the following parameters of the current year for month of June :
- Social-demographic parameters of the households
- Social demographic parameters of the respondents
- Households and people access to the information and communication technologies
- Usage of personal computer
- Usage of Internet
- Information related to the Internet service providers
- Different parameters (procurement and obstacles on Internet) connected with Internet usage
- Knowledge of the population in area of Information Technologies
- Media habits of the population
The study was conducted via face-to-face interviews of Quantitative Research Methodologies in homes of respondents. Selection of households was based on systematic random selection, while respondents were selected in a simple random manner (based on last-birthday method):
Sampling frame has been population residing in 9 out of 11 economic zones of Azerbaijan (2 remaining zones are occupied by Armenia). To ensure representativeness of the sample, the population in rural areas (villages) and the urban areas (district center) were segregated, and the proportion of rural and urban populations was calculated based on data of State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan Republic (SSC). Based on these proportions, sample households were allocated between rural and urban areas.
Baku is taken separately and 38% of the whole sample size were allocated in this city.
In remaining 8 strata (i.e. economic zones) urban and rural substrata have been formed based on SSC data.
Share of urban population in total sample comprised 64%.
Distribution respondents by males and females amounted to 45% vs. 55%.
Distribution of respondents by age groups appeared to be as follows: 18-24 (24%), 25-34 (22%), 35-44 (21%), 45-54 (20%), 55-64 (9%), 65-74 (4%).
Education level of respondents was incomplete or complete secondary in 62% of cases, specialized secondary in 15% of cases, incomplete or complete higher in 23% of cases. Only 1% of respondents appeared to have primary or no education at all.
38% of surveyed people were employed.
66% of respondents were married, 27% single, 2% divorced and 5% widow(er).
Basic results of the survey:

SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAVE AT LEAST 1 COMPUTER, AMONG ALL HOUSEHOLDS

 In 2010 25.6% of households in the whole country (38% in urban areas) have at least 1 working PC. Another 1% have non-working PC too. But in 73.3% of housholds there is not any efficient computer in general.

SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH PLAN TO PURCHASE COMPUTER, AMONG HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH DO NOT POSSESS COMPUTER
 18% of those households, which do not have computer currently, plan to purchase it within upcoming 6 months. But 82% of households do not think about this within upcoming 6 months.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMPUTERS

 Average number of computers per 100 people aged 16-64 is 9.1 in 2010. According to SSC in 2007 there were 2.4, while in 2008 there were 2.9 computers per 100 people.

 Average number of computers per 100 households is 27.4 in 2010. According to SSC in 2007 there were 11.0, while in 2008 there were 13.7 computers per 100 households.

SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER, WHO USES COMPUTER AT ANY PLACE, AMONG ALL HOUSEHOLDS

 44% of households throughout the whole country have at least 1 member, who uses computer anywhere. 56% of households do not use any computer in general.
SHARE OF RESPONDENTS, WHO USE A COMPUTER
Total of all respondents taking part in the survey 31% uses the computer. But other 69% do not use the computer. This is enough serious indicator.
SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER, WHO USES INTERNET AT ANY PLACE,
AMONG ALL HOUSEHOLDS

 38% of households throughout the whole country have at least 1 member, who uses internet anywhere. But in 62% of households there is no one who uses the computer anywhere in general.
SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER, WHO USES INTERNET AT ANY PLACE,
AMONG ALL URBAN HOUSEHOLDS

 51% of households in urban areas of the country have at least 1 member, who uses internet anywhere. But 49% of households do not use the computer in general.
SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER, WHO USES INTERNET AT HOME,
AMONG ALL URBAN HOUSEHOLDS
In 29.2% of households, there is at least 1 member, who uses internet at home.
SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER, WHO USES INTERNET VIA CELL PHONE,
AMONG ALL HOUSEHOLDS

 17% of households throughout the whole country have at least 1 member, who uses internet via mobile phone. None of 83% households members uses the computer through mobile phone in general.
SHARE OF RESPONDENTS, WHO USE INTERNET,
AMONG ALL RESPONDENTS
Total of all respondents taking part in the survey 45% uses the computer.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF PC PER 100 PEOPLE
At the time of investigating have been determined that each of 100 persons in the country 12 of them is the ADSL user. Present level of this indicator informs about development of the area of service in question in Azerbaijan.

In general, survey results give basis for looking at the future of the ICT sector in Azerbaijan by hope. On the basis of opinion of the population, other sources and comparison with previous years is possible to say that development dynamics of the ICT sector in the country is high and has formed big potential for development in this area.



Press-service of the Azerbaijan Marketing Society