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 24.3 shows summary indicators of Internet activity for the March quarters 2001 and 2002:
- Over the year to the end of March 2002, the total number of ISPs fell from 665 to 571, mainly as a result of a decrease in the number of smaller ISPs (those with 1,000 or fewer subscribers). The number of smaller ISPs declined by 81.
- Points of presence of ISPs fell from 2,310 to 2,131 (by 8%) over the year to the end of March 2002, and access lines decreased from 490,108 to 447,050 (by 9%). These indicators recorded declines in capital cities and in other areas.
- Data downloaded by subscribers were 1,234 million megabytes (MBs) during the March quarter 2002, up from 1,040 million MBs during the March quarter 2001. On average, each subscriber downloaded 290 MBs during the March quarter 2002.
- The number of subscribers increased from 4.0 million to 4.2 million (7%), representing an average of 9.5 subscribers per access line at the end of March 2002.
- Although there was a wide distribution of ISPs across Australia, capital cities accounted for 75% of access lines and 73% of subscribers at the end of March 2002, and 81% of MBs downloaded during the March quarter 2002.
- Increasing numbers of subscribers are accessing the Internet using permanent broadband methods such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). The number of subscribers using DSL increased from 27,000 to 60,000 over the year to the end of March 2002, with the number of ISPs offering this service increasing from 52 to 131.
24.3 INTERNET ACTIVITY, Summary indicators
|
 | | Units | Capital cities | Other areas | Total |
|
MARCH QUARTER 2001 |
|
| Internet Service Poviders(a)(b) | no. | 496 | 277 | 665 |
| Internet access | | | | |
| Points of presence(a) | no. | 1,030 | 1,280 | 2,310 |
| Access lines(a) | no. | 349,888 | 140,220 | 490,108 |
| Subscribers(a) | '000 | 2,888 | 1,080 | 3,968 |
| Data downloaded(c) | million MBs | 791 | 249 | 1,040 |
| Average number of subscribers per access line(a) | no. | 8.3 | 7.7 | 8.1 |
| Average data downloaded per subscriber(c)(d) | MBs | 301 | 191 | 273 |
|
MARCH QUARTER 2002 |
|
| Internet Service Providers(a)(b) | no. | 427 | 247 | 571 |
| Internet access | | | | |
| Points of presence(a) | no. | 921 | 1,210 | 2,131 |
| Access lines(a) | no. | 334,086 | 112,964 | 447,050 |
| Subscribers(a) | '000 | 3,109 | 1,121 | 4,230 |
| Data downloaded(c) | million MBs | 997 | 237 | 1,234 |
| Average number of subscribers per access line(a) | no. | 9.3 | 9.9 | 9.5 |
| Average data downloaded per subscriber(c)(d) | MBs | 320 | 205 | 290 |
|
(a) As at the end of the reference quarter.
(b) As ISPs could have a presence in capital cities and in other areas the components will not add to total.
(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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