Hispanic Broadband Access

According to The Hispanic Institute and Mobile Future Hispanics have a strong preference for mobile broadband access. While Hispanics trail other U.S. populations in overall Internet access, they are among the most avid users of mobile broadband. In fact, Hispanics and African Americans lead mobile broadband use
(53% and 58% respectively), with both communities far ahead of Whites (33%).

Hispanics are more mobile than the general U.S. population and, thus, rely more on cell phones. In fact, compared to Americans generally, Hispanics account for more minutes used and for a higher percentage of cell-phone ownership despite their relatively low incomes.

Given that roughly 40% of U.S. Hispanics are born abroad1, in countries where wireless service often is more common than landline phones, the American Hispanic community is more open to mobile broadband than many other population groups. This familiarity makes the leap to smartphones and other connected mobile devices a more intuitive step for many than turning to wired, home broadband adoption and computer usage.

In 2008, Hispanics outpaced the general population in accessing and downloading digital media (music, video, audio, movies, television programs, video games and podcasts), 42% to 35%2.

In many developing countries, there are relatively few traditional telephone landlines due to infrastructure limitations. As a result, cell phone use often eclipses landline usage in many parts of the world.

In Mexico, mobile phones have a 36% penetration rate, compared to only 16% for land lines, and in Chile penetration rates are 60% and 22%, respectively15, with similar rates in most Central and South American countries. As a result, many immigrants arrive in the United States with a propensity for mobile use. Transition to smart phones and other similar devices seems an easy step, which may partly explain why immigrants are more likely to have cell phones even if they have relatively lower incomes than the average U.S. resident.

Additionally, immigrants tend to be more mobile and have greater need for wireless services. Given that roughly 40% of Hispanics are foreign-born,17 it adds to the facility with which Hispanics have migrated to wireless and broadband devices and
services.

The Hispanic Broadband Access: Making the Most of the Mobile, Connected Future is a joint research project of The Hispanic Institute and Mobile Future.􀀁