The Netherlands remains an international frontrunner when it comes to the availability of ICT in households. Digital television has become popular in the Netherlands: over 2 million households used the application by December 2006. Furthermore, 7.5 million people had made online purchases at some point.
The use of ICT by Dutch companies was not at the absolute top, internationally. Turnover through e-commerce in 2006 made up almost 11 percent of the total turnover of all companies. Companies did perform rather well in the use of broadband.
Over two thirds of government services was available online by the end of 2007. In this respect the Dutch government performs above average within the European context. The care and education sector, on the other hand, do not really lead the way when it comes to ICT investments.
The ICT sector has taken full advantage of the economic recovery since 2004, especially the ICT services sector. Dutch international trade in ICT goods and services has grown rapidly in the past decade, both exports and imports flourished in the Netherlands. The telecom sector contributed about 2.5 percent to the Gross Domestic Product of the Netherlands in 2006.
)
Statistical appendix
)