8146.0 - Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2005-06  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/12/2006   
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MEDIA RELEASE


December 15, 2006
Embargoed 11:30am (AEDT)
121/2006

Broadband Internet access doubles

The take-up of broadband Internet connections by Australian households almost doubled in the year to June 2006, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released today.

About half (2.3 million) of all households with Internet had broadband access in 2005-06.

Overall, 34% of all households in metropolitan areas were connected to broadband, compared with 19% of all households in non-metropolitan areas.

The most popular (83%) broadband connection used by households was Digital Subscriber Line (DSL).

Overall, the proportion of households with home Internet access rose to 60% in 2005-06 (from 56% in 2004-05).

The main reasons given by households without home Internet access in 2005-06, were "No use for the Internet" (24%), followed by "Lack of interest in Internet" (23%) and "Costs are too high" (19%).

Most children use computers and the Internet

The majority (92%) of children aged 5-14 years used a computer and close to two-thirds (65%) accessed the Internet during the reference period, according to an ABS survey on Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities 2006.

The use of a computer or accessing the Internet for school or educational activities was the most common activity, reported respectively by 79% and 82% children. The most common Internet sites accessed by children for school or educational activities or leisure related to "Technology and science" (39%).

Broadband Internet connections were the most popular way of accessing the Internet, reported by 65% of children using the Internet at home.

Further details are in Household Use of Information Technology, Australia (cat. no. 8146.0).