The age profile of the ethnic minority groups is significantly younger than the British population overall which is a key factor contributing to higher take-up among them. Ethnic minorities in the under-45 age group are more likely to own a mobile phone and access digital TV and the internet (ranging from 64-73% across the groups) than the average person under 45 in Britain (67%). Mobile phone take-up is higher amongst adults from Indian, Pakistani, Caribbean and African groups (88-95% compared to 85% for Britain as a whole).

And Indian, Pakistani and Black African adults are far more likely to live in households with multiple device access (digital TV, mobile phone and internet) than Britain as a whole (62-65 % compared to 53 % of the British population). Adults from ethnic minority groups also are more likely to be confident about using specific interactive functions on digital devices.

Over three quarters of adults from each of the ethnic minority groups said they were interested in digital television functions, such as using the interactive button on the remote and setting up a menu of favourite channels.

According to the 2001 census, ethnic minority groups represent 7.9% of the British population. The four largest groups are Indians (1.8%), Pakistanis (1.3%), Black Caribbeans (1%) and Black Africans (0.8%). Ethnic minority groups tend to be younger than the British population in general - 62-83% are 16-45 compared to 52% of the British population.