Young Europeans taking up VoIP, survey shows

More than a third of Europeans aged 16-24 made VoIP calls this year, new statistics have revealed.

Eurostat's figures for the 27 members of the European Union (EU) showed the proportion declined higher up the age scale, with just over a quarter of 25-54-year-olds and one-fifth of 55-74-year-olds making voice or video calls via broadband.

Meanwhile, the number of homes with high-speed connections has risen markedly over the last four years.

In 2006, less than a third of households enjoyed broadband access, compared with nearly two-thirds in 2010, the report stated.

More than 85 per cent of people in all age groups use email, the study added, but the difference across the generations when it comes to social media is stark.

Four-fifths of 16-24-year-olds use websites such as blogs and chat sites, compared with less than 20 per cent of 55-75-year-olds.

The UK government has earmarked £830 million to provide high-speed broadband access to homes throughout the UK by 2015