Internet Service Provider Survey: September 2007

Survey background

The Internet Service Provider Survey provides information on the total number and nature of subscribers who use New Zealand-based Internet service providers (ISPs) to connect either permanently or regularly to the Internet. This information allows a measurement of the global connectivity of New Zealanders, which is regarded as an important determinant in accelerating economic growth. A core set of official statistics on Internet service provision results from this survey and this will help individuals, communities, businesses and government to understand how information and communication technology is changing the economy and society.

Data collection

The Internet Service Provider Survey: September 2007 was a postal survey of all organisations meeting the population selection criteria. The population was constructed by combining ISP industry lists with names of ISP organisations from the Statistics New Zealand Business Frame, according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 category J591000.

• J591000 Internet Service Providers and Web Search Portals. This class consists of units mainly engaged in providing Internet access services. Also included are units which provide web-search portals used to search the Internet. Primary activities are Internet access provision, Internet access service (online), and Internet service provision.

The questionnaire used a six-monthly reference period ending 30 September 2007. No financial information was requested from respondents. The survey was posted out in October 2007.

Target population

The target population was defined as: 'All resident New Zealand Internet service providers', where Internet service providers were defined as economically significant businesses that supply permanent or regular Internet connectivity services to individuals, households, businesses and other organisations in New Zealand.

A business is considered economically significant if it is found on the Statistics NZ Business Frame and meets one or more of the following criteria:

• has greater than $30,000 annual GST expenses or sales
• had more than two employees over the last year
• is in a GST-exempt industry (except for residential property leasing and rental)
• is part of a group of enterprises.

For the purposes of this survey, the population included all resident ISPs, regardless of their RME (rolling mean employee) measurement, found on the Statistics NZ Business Frame or other employment measures.

Exclusions

Enterprises that provided other Internet services such as web and domain hosting, but who did not provide ISP services, were excluded from the population. This was because the above enterprises were not strictly classified as ISPs. Web-hosting units did not interact directly with the public. Since the public access their website through an ISP, their activity was already covered by the survey. Including them would have resulted in double counting.

Businesses that provided occasional or unmetered access (including Internet cafes, kiosks, libraries, universities) were also excluded. The activity of this group was covered by the ISP each subscribed to, so they did not need to be surveyed separately.

Connections to the Internet via mobile phone were also excluded as this is neither a permanent nor regular Internet connection and thus is beyond the scope of this survey. However mobile (cellular) data-card-only subscriptions to the Internet are included.

The selection unit for inclusion in the population was set at the enterprise level.

Response rate

The target response rate for the Internet Service Provider Survey: September 2007 was 85 percent for units in the population list, with 100 percent collection required of identified key respondents. The actual overall response rate achieved was 86 percent overall and 95 percent for key respondents. The non-response key enterprise was manually imputed with historical data.

The population for the survey was 77 enterprises.

Imputations

Where data was missing or required clarification respondents were contacted in the first instance. When necessary, missing data was imputed based on historical data collected.

Reliability of the data

Given that the Internet Service Provider Survey: September 2007 is a census rather than a sample, the data is not subject to sample variability. However, other inaccuracies, such as non-sampling errors, may affect the data. These non-sampling errors may arise from sources such as:

• errors in the reporting of data by respondents
• errors in capturing or processing of data
• lack of imputation for missing or misreported data
• definition and classification errors.

Every effort has been made to reduce non-sampling error to a minimum by careful design and thorough testing of questionnaires, efficient operating systems and procedures, and appropriate methodology.

Definitions

Internet service providers (ISPs)

Businesses that supply Internet connectivity services to individuals, households, businesses and other organisations.

Active subscriber

This is a customer who within the last 90 days has accessed the Internet or paid for access to the Internet through an ISP. Under this definition the following inclusions and exclusions are made:

includes:

all subscribers who obtain access to the Internet through an ISP
both dial-up and non-dial-up connection subscribers.

excludes:

• web-hosting-only subscribers
• email-only subscribers
• connections to the Internet via mobile phone.

Mbps and kbps

Mbps and kbps are measures of download and upload speed. Mbps stands for megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second) and kbps stands for kilobits per second (1,000 bits per second).

Internet subscription data allowance

An Internet subscription data allowance is a method employed by ISPs to limit the volume of data downloaded and/or uploaded by subscribers during a fixed period, normally a month. Once a fixed data cap has been reached, lower speed or extra access charges may apply.

Email filtering

Email filtering is a service offered by ISPs that monitors email messages. It will either pass the message through unchanged for delivery to the user's mailbox, redirect the message for delivery elsewhere, or delete or edit the message. Common uses for email filters include removal of spam and computer viruses.

Web filtering

Web filtering is a service offered by ISPs that filters by keyword or blocks by URL what a web browser will display, usually for the benefit of children.

Business Frame

A register maintained by Statistics NZ of all economically significant businesses operating in New Zealand.

Enterprise

A business or service entity operating in New Zealand. It can be a company, partnership, trust, estate, incorporated society, producer board, local or central government organisation, voluntary organisation or self-employed individual.

Rolling mean employment (RME)

This is the 12-month moving average of the monthly employment count, derived from employer monthly schedule data.

More information

For more information, follow the link from the technical notes of this release on the Statistics New Zealand website.

Copyright

Information obtained from Statistics NZ may be freely used, reproduced, or quoted unless otherwise specified. In all cases Statistics NZ must be acknowledged as the source.

Liability

While care has been used in processing, analysing and extracting information, Statistics NZ gives no warranty that the information supplied is free from error. Statistics NZ shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of any information, product or service.

Timing

Timed statistical releases are delivered using postal and electronic services provided by third parties. Delivery of these releases may be delayed by circumstances outside the control of Statistics NZ. Statistics NZ accepts no responsibility for any such delays.

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