Wireless Internet Popular in Australia

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 21.7% increase in Mobile wireless Internet use from December 2009 to June 2010 (Internet Activity, Australia, Jun 2010). Note that the ABS has had some difficulties with what is the definition of fixed and mobile wireless and so the figures need to be treated with caution. It may be that this over reports use, where people get wireless Internet free with something they buy, or unreported it, where they have a data service bundled with their mobile phones. However, popularity of wireless raises questions as to the need for and viability of the fixed fibre optic National Broadband Network. My view is that the NBN fibre network is a good thing, but we will likely have widespread use of wireless as well. It is likely most people will have fibre to provide TV and their phone, as well have mobile wireless on their mobile phone. The fibre provides a higher capacity more reliable service. I was interviewed about this on ABC 666 Local Radio Canberra this morning. Other statistics:

• At the end of June 2010, there were 9.6 million active internet subscribers in Australia.
• The phasing out of dial-up internet connections continued with nearly 92% of internet connections now being non dial-up. Australians also continued to access increasingly faster download speeds, with 71% of access connections offering a download speed of 1.5Mbps or greater.
• Digital subscriber line (DSL) continued to be the major technology for connections, accounting for 44% of the total internet connections. However, this percentage share has decreased since December 2009 when DSL represented 47% of the total connections.
• Mobile wireless (excluding mobile handset connections) was the fastest growing technology in internet access, increasing to 3.5 million in June 2010. This represents a 21.7% increase from December 2009. ...

From: "Internet Activity, Australia, Jun 2010", 8153.0, ABS, 20 September 2010