A recent survey has revealed that 33 % of German firms used the internet to communicate with public authorities in 2006. The pattern for private citizens was similar. In the first quarter of 2006, 28 % of people aged ten or over living in Germany used internet sites run by public authorities or institutions. If only those who actually had internet access are taken into account, the proportion of eGovernment users rises to 41 % for firms and 43 % for individuals.

The larger enterprises, employing 20 people or more, were particularly keen on electronic contacts with the powers that be. About 63 % of big companies with internet access used the on-line services offered by administrations, whereas the corresponding figure for smaller firms with access was 37 %. Unsurprisingly perhaps, firms in research and development have taken most readily to eGovernment – 92 % of R&D companies with internet access used these services.

Energy and water companies are also among the biggest eGovernment fans (69 %). At the other end of the scale, only 19 % of retailers went on-line to contact public administrations. Overall, firms used eGovernment sites mainly to download forms (84 %) and find information (74 %). The completed forms were sent back electronically by 71 % of these companies, and 17 % of them used on-line tendering processes to bid for public contracts.

For the private citizens, information was the main goal (86%). But 54 % of them downloaded official forms, and 29 % sent them back on-line.