8146.0 - Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2010-11 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/12/2011   
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MEDIA RELEASE
15 December 2011
Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEST)
162/2011
Nearly three-quarters of Australian households now have broadband

In 2010-11, 6.2 million households had broadband internet access, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This is an increase of over one million households since 2008-09 – almost three quarters (73%) of all households now have broadband.

The Australian Capital Territory continued to have the highest proportion of broadband access with 83% of ACT households connected. The lowest proportion was in Tasmania, where 65% of households had broadband access.

Over two thirds (68%) of internet users made a purchase over the internet in 2010-11. The most popular types of purchases were travel, accommodation, memberships or tickets of any kind; and CDs, music, DVDs, videos, books or magazines.

One of the most popular activities performed on the internet was social networking. Social networking was more common for internet users in the younger age groups: 88% of 15 to 17 year olds and 86% of 18 to 24 year olds performed this activity.

Further information is available in Household Use of Information Technology, Australia (cat. no. 8146.0).

Media note:
When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.