8153.0 - Internet Activity, Australia, December 2015 
Quality Declaration
Quality Declaration ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/04/2016
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EXPLANATORY NOTES
SCOPE AND COVERAGE 5 The December 2015 IAS covers Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who operated in Australia as at 31 December 2015 that had more than 1,000 subscribers. ISPs are defined as businesses that supply internet connectivity and access services to individuals, households, businesses, government and other organisations. Hotels, libraries, internet kiosks, internet cafes and hotspots that provide internet access on a casual basis are excluded from the survey population. 6 The source of the IAS population frame is a list of ISPs from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), with whom ISPs are required to register. Using this list as a basis, the ABS maintains its own list of ISPs. The TIO register may contain the following organisations that are out of scope or counted differently on the IAS: those that are no longer operating as ISPs, including wholesalers and web hosting ISPs only; those where there is common ownership and, therefore reporting is consolidated for these ISPs on the IAS; and other types of organisations that are required to register with the TIO (e.g. telecommunications companies that do not provide ISP services). 7 The reference periods for IAS are June and December to align with international reporting of broadband statistics by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The IAS includes information reported by all ISPs operating in Australia, with more than 1,000 subscribers, as at 30 June and 31 December. 8 Internet connections via a mobile handset were first published in June 2010 as an appendix and are now part of the main publication. REFERENCE PERIOD 9 This release relates to information as at 31 December 2015, except for volume of data downloaded, which is for the three months ended 31 December 2015. RESPONSE RATE 10 The response rate for the December 2015 cycle of IAS was 90.6%. IMPUTATION 11 Where data were missing or required clarification, respondents were contacted in the first instance. When necessary, missing data were imputed based on historical data collected or live respondent mean. ROUNDING 12 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between the sum of components and the total. Proportions have been calculated using rounded data. RELIABILITY OF DATA 13 As the IAS does not have a sample component, the data are not subject to sampling variability. However, other inaccuracies, collectively referred to as non-sampling errors, may affect the data. These non-sampling errors may arise from a number of sources, including:
14 Every effort has been made to reduce non-sampling error to a minimum by careful design and testing of questionnaires, efficient operating procedures and systems, appropriate methodology, and contact with providers to resolve anomalies. Errors in previous cycles' data are only revised (if possible) where they have a significant impact on the data released. 15 The statistics on volume of data downloaded should only be considered as an indicative measure of internet activity during the reference period and therefore should be used with caution. 16 Some ISPs provide proportions in lieu of actual state subscriber numbers. A number of ISPs have reported increasing difficulties in providing subscriber numbers by state/territory. These data have an element of estimation and should be used with caution. These data are not included for December 2015, but are available on request. Similarly, data for mobile handset subscribers are split by dedicated data subscriptions and all other active standard subscriptions as not all ISPs keep accurate records of this disaggregation. These data also have an element of estimation and should be used with caution. This does not impact the accuracy of the mobile handset subscriber numbers at the total level. 17 A glossary of the terms used in this release can be found in the Explanatory Notes tab. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 18 ABS releases draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated for without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905. 19 In particular, the ABS acknowledges the assistance of the TIO in providing regular lists of registered ISPs. RELATED RELEASES 20 Other ABS releases on information technology and telecommunications in Australia are:
Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, cat. no. 8146.0 Summary of IT Use and Innovation in Australian Business, cat. no. 8166.0 Selected Characteristics of Australian Business, cat. no. 8167.0 Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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