In the September quarter 2000, the ABS commenced a quarterly survey of all identified businesses in Australia providing Internet connectivity services, except for libraries, Internet kiosks and Internet cafes. The survey includes businesses for which telecommunication service provision was a minor part of their business operation. From the March quarter 2002, the collection frequency of the survey was changed from quarterly to biannual. Table 23.5 shows summary indicators of Internet activity for the March quarters 2001, 2002 and 2003:
- Over the year to the end of March 2003, the total number of Internet service providers (ISPs) fell from 571 to 554, mainly as a result of a decrease in the number of smaller ISPs (those with 101 to 1,000 subscribers). The number of smaller ISPs declined by 25.
- Points of presence of ISPs fell from 2,130 to 1,687 (by 21%) over the year to the end of March 2003, while access lines rose from 447,050 to 857,470 (by 91%). This large increase in access lines is largely attributable to the increase in permanent connection subscribers.
- Data downloaded by subscribers were 3,046 million megabytes (MBs) during the March quarter 2003, up from 1,831 million MBs during the March quarter 2002. On average, each subscriber downloaded 616 MBs during the March quarter 2003.
- The number of subscribers increased from 4.2 million at the end of March 2002 to almost 5.1 million (20%), representing an average of 5.9 subscribers per access line at the end of March 2003.
- Increasing numbers of subscribers are accessing the Internet using permanent (non dial-up) connections, including broadband technologies such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). The number of subscribers using DSL increased from 60,000 to 209,000 over the year to the end of March 2003, with the number of ISPs offering this service increasing from 131 to 310.
23.5 INTERNET ACTIVITY, Summary indicators
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 | | | | March quarter |
| | | |
|
| | Units | | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|
| Total number of Internet service providers(a) | no. | | 665 | 571 | 554 |
| Internet service providers providing DSL services(a)(b) | no. | | 52 | 131 | 310 |
| Internet access | | | | | |
| Points of presence(a) | no. | | 2,310 | 2,130 | 1,687 |
| Access lines(a) | no. | | 490,108 | 447,050 | 857,470 |
| Total number of subscribers(a) | '000 | | 3,968 | 4,229 | 5,076 |
| Subscribers using DSL(a)(b) | '000 | | 27 | 60 | 209 |
| Data downloaded(c) | million MBs | | 1,040 | 1,831 | 3,046 |
| Average number of subscribers per access line(a) | no. | | 8.1 | 9.5 | 5.9 |
| Average data downloaded per subscriber(c)(d) | MBs | | 273 | 433 | 616 |
|
(a) As at the end of the reference quarter.
(b) Digital Subscriber Line.
(c) During the three months of the reference quarter.
(d) Calculated by dividing data downloaded with an estimate of the number of subscribers at the midpoint of the reference quarter. |
| | | | | | |
| Source: Internet Activity, Australia (8153.0). |
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