Digital technology is relatively new, yet it is already approaching the near universal ownership levels of older technologies. Growth in DVD player ownership has been rapid in recent years, with the proportion of UK households owning one rising by one-and-a-half-times between 2002/03 and 2005/06 to 79 per cent. In 2005/06, 88 per cent of UK households had a CD player and 79 per cent a mobile phone. In April to June 2006, 26 per cent of people aged 15 and over owned an MP3 player.

In January to April 2006, 56 per cent of households in Great Britain had a desktop computer, 30 per cent had a portable or laptop computer, and 7 per cent had a handheld computer. During this period, 87 per cent of people aged 16 to 30 had used a computer in the previous three months compared with 45 per cent of those aged 50 and over.

There is a considerable overlap in the ownership of information and communication technology (ICT). From January to April 2006, almost one-half (45 per cent) of households received a digital television service, as well as owning a mobile phone and having access to the Internet. However, one in twelve (8 per cent) did not have access to any of these ICT capabilities.