In the September quarter 2000, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (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 23.4 shows summary indicators of Internet activity for the March quarters 2002, 2003 and 2004:
- Over the year to the end of March 2004, the total number of Internet service providers (ISPs) rose from 554 to 694, mainly as a result of an increase in the number of smaller ISPs (those with 1-1,000 subscribers). The number of very small ISPs (1-100 subscribers) increased by 66 while the number of small ISPs (101-1,000 subscribers) increased by 68.
- The number of access lines rose from 857,470 to 1,474,345 (an increase of 72%). This large increase in access lines is largely attributable to the increase in non dial-up connection subscribers.
- Data downloaded by subscribers were 6,409 million megabytes (MBs) during the March quarter 2004, up from 3,046 million MBs during the March quarter 2003. On average, each subscriber downloaded 1,228 MBs during the March quarter 2004.
- The number of subscribers increased from 5.1 million at the end of March 2003 to just over 5.2 million at the end of March 2004, representing an average of 3.5 subscribers per access line at the end of March 2004.
- Increasing numbers of subscribers are accessing the Internet using non dial-up connections, including broadband technologies such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). The number of subscribers using DSL increased from 209,000 to 512,000 over the year to the end of March 2004, with the number of ISPs offering this service increasing from 310 to 526 over the same period.
23.4 INTERNET ACTIVITY, Summary indicators
|
 | | | March quarter |
| | |
|
| | Units | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|
| Total number of Internet service providers(a) | no. | 571 | 554 | 694 |
| Internet service providers providing DSL services(a)(b) | no. | 131 | 310 | 526 |
| Internet access lines(a) | '000 | 447 | 857 | 1,474 |
| Total number of subscribers(a) | '000 | 4,229 | 5,076 | 5,220 |
| Subscribers using DSL(a)(b) | '000 | 60 | 209 | 512 |
| Data downloaded(c) | million MBs | 1,831 | 3,046 | 6,409 |
| Average number of subscribers per access line(a) | no. | 9.5 | 5.9 | 3.5 |
| Average data downloaded per subscriber(d) | MBs | 433 | 616 | 1,228 |
|
(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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