ACMA report shows Australians going mobile, big time.

Stuart Corner
Friday, 10 December 2010 12:56

IT Industry - Market

Communications minister, senator Stephen Conroy has table the ACMA's annual communications report in Parliament. It shows Australians increasing love of mobile phones for data and in lieu of fixed lines.

The ACMA reported The total number of mobile services in operation (voice and data services) in Australia increased by seven per cent during 2009-10 to reach 25.99 million services at June 2010, saying The net growth in mobile services was fuelled by a very significant surge in the numbers of mobile wireless broadband services (datacard/dongle connected to a computer) which increased by 71 per cent over the period to reach 3.46 million at June 2010.

Over the year the number of fixed-line telephone services in operation, declined from 10.67 million to 10.59 million.

During the year the number of Internet subscribers increased by 14 percent from 8.4 million to 9.6 million and mobile wireless broadband's (excluding handset) share of the Internet subscriber market increased from 24 to 36 per cent.

Mobile wireless broadband subscriber numbers increased by 71 percent compared to two per cent growth for DSL and DSL's share of the Internet subscriber market declined from 50 per cent to 44 per cent. However fixed broadband continues to dominate downloads, account for 91 percent of total.

Meanwhile the number of Australians aged 14 and over without a fixed line phone at home increased by 35 percent, from 1.7 million to 2.3 million.