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• Past Releases

3 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) STATISTICS

3.1 RECENT RELEASES
3.1.1 Household Use of Information Technology (HUIT)
3.1.2 Internet Activity
3.1.3 Business Use of Information Technology (BUIT)
3.1.4 Farm Use of Information Technology (FUIT)
3.2 DEVELOPMENTS IN ICT STATISTICS
3.2.1 ABS ICT Reference Group
3.2.2 ICT Industries Survey (ICTIS)


3.1 RECENT RELEASES

3.1.1 Household Use of Information Technology (HUIT)

The latest publication Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2008—09 (cat. no. 8146.0) was released on 16 December 2009. The publication presents results compiled from data collected as part of the Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS) for 2008—09 and the Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities (CPCLA) survey for April 2009. These results include data on household computer or internet access, personal use of the internet, and the type of household internet access (from the MPHS) as well as data on use of the internet and ownership of mobile phones by children (from the CPCLA). Electronic versions of relevant tables as well as Relative Standard Error (RSE) tables where applicable are available as separate downloads for this release.

Due to a reduction in the frequency of the HUIT collection from annual to biennial, the next publication will be HUIT 2010—11 to be published in 2011. Development of HUIT 2010—11 is currently underway with notable additions to HUIT content in the MPHS questionnaire.

For further information about HUIT statistics, contact the National Information Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Siddhartha De, Innovation and Technology NSC & Tax Data on (02) 6252 6519.


3.1.2 Internet Activity

Internet Activity, Australia, June 2009 (ABS cat. no. 8153.0) was released on 14 September 2009. Data in this release are sourced from the Internet Activity Survey (IAS), and are based on results for significant Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as at 30 June 2009 (i.e. those with over 1,000 subscribers). The IAS contains details on subscriber characteristics including counts of business and government, and household subscribers; access connection by speed; access technology; state and territory of subscribers; and the volume of data downloaded. IAS data have recently highlighted key trends in internet subscriptions, including a continuing strong growth in the number of wireless broadband subscribers as well as increasingly higher speeds of connections.

The reference periods for this collection are December and June which align with international reporting of broadband statistics by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). From June 2009, the intention is that both cycles will collect data from all ISPs with more than 1,000 active subscribers, thereby providing greater scope and coverage in both cycles, allowing the ABS to produce better outputs. This represents a change from previous cycles where December was a full census of all ISPs and June a reduced scope survey of all ISPs with more than 10,000 active subscribers. As part of this restructure, a triennial full census of all ISPs is also planned to ensure coverage. However, discussions with key users are now underway regarding the potential for an annual full census, likely to commence in the June cycle 2010.

The December 2009 data are expected to be released on 30 March 2010.

If you wish to know more about IAS statistics, please contact Tim Landrigan on (08) 9360 5104.


3.1.3 Business Use of Information Technology (BUIT)

The latest issue of Business Use of Information Technology, 2007-08 (cat. no. 8129.0) was released on 20 August 2009. Key findings included the fact that while rates of Internet access amongst businesses had remained fairly constant, the proportion of businesses with a broadband connection continued to rise from 90% to 94%. Additionally, while the proportion of businesses receiving orders via the Internet or web remained relatively steady, the income resulting from orders received over the Internet or web increased approximately $13 billion, a 20% increase from 2006-07, to $81 billion. The ABS collects Business Use of Information Technology statistics on a biennial basis and the next release of this publication is expected to be in August 2011.


3.1.4 Farm Use of Information Technology (FUIT)

The final publication for Use of Internet on Farms, Australia, 2007–08 (ABS cat. no. 8150.0) was released on 17 August 2009. This release presents final estimates for internet use indicators collected on the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). As a result of changes to ABS work programs, there are no future FUIT surveys planned.

For further information about statistics related to farms' use of the Internet, please contact Tim Landrigan on (08) 9360 5104.


3.2 DEVELOPMENTS IN ICT STATISTICS

3.2.1 ABS ICT Reference Group

The ABS established an ICT reference group in early 2004 involving government, industry, academic and community representatives. The aim of the reference group is to improve the usefulness of ICT statistics collected by the ABS from a variety of sources. The reference group provides a high level forum for understanding, improving and developing ICT statistics, by providing members with the opportunity to discuss and consider strategies to address ICT statistical issues. Members from the following key stakeholder organisations participated in the September 2009 meeting: Australian Communications and Media Authority; Australian Computer Society; Dept of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; Dept of Finance and Deregulation; Australian Institute of Criminology; Australian Information Industry Association; National ICT Australia; Dept of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research; and the Qld Dept of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

The most recent meeting of the reference group was held on 23 September 2009. The issues discussed included:

• current and emerging ICT Strategic Issues such as the National Broadband Network;
• developments and direction for the ICT Industry Survey (ICTIS);
• development of the 2009–10 Business Use of Information Technology (BUIT) survey;
• changes to the Internet Activities Survey (IAS);
• update on the Farm Use of Information Technology (FUIT) collection;
• data in respect of Government Use of Information Technology;
• direction for 2011 Census of Population and Housing ICT related question;
• developments in Household Use of Information Technology Statistics;
• ICT related statistics produced by other organisations;
• analytical projects undertaken by ABS; and
• international developments.