Passing By and Passing Through

Using panel data, this chapter shows the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Europe. For example, from 1998 to 2001, Internet adoption rates in UK households more than doubled from 24per cent to 51per cent. Mobile phone use grew even faster, almost tripling from 24 per cent in 1998 to 69 per cent in 2001. However, this aggregate growth conceals some complexities. In particular, a minority of those who began to use the Internet or a mobile phone dropped this service. Although adoption easily outstrips churn, the result indicates that one cannot view diffusion of technology as a uniform process. It is much more erratic. Moreover, adoption and dropout are distinct processes, influenced by quite different needs. Those who move in or out of access do not jointly form an intermediate category of less-committed users.