December 16, 2009
Embargoed 11.30 am AEDT
102/2009
Nearly two-thirds of Australian households now have broadband: ABS
As of June 2009, just over five million households had broadband, according to figures released
today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This is an increase of 700,000 households or 16% on the previous year - nearly two-thirds (62%) of
all households now have broadband.
The Australian Capital Territory continues to have the highest proportion of broadband connections,
with nearly three-quarters (74%) of ACT households now connected. Lowest is Tasmania, at just
under half (49%).
There are 6.4 million households with a computer; 5.9 million of these have internet access. This
is an increase of 4.8 million connected households since 1998.
The ABS also found that households with children under 15 were more likely to have broadband
access (77%) compared to households without (56%).
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of children accessed the internet from home, and almost one-third
(31%) had their own mobile phones.
Children used the internet for educational activities (85%) and playing on-line games (69%). About
half of older children (48%) used the internet to visit social networking sites and a further quarter
(24%) created their own on-line content such as blogs or websites.
An estimated 72,000 children experienced personal safety or security problems on the internet,
while 28,000 children had similar problems while using mobiles.
Further details are available in Household Use of Information Technology, Australia 2008-09 (cat.
no. 8146.0).
Media note:
When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the
source.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media requests and interviews
Corporate Communications 1300 175 070
Statistical Clarification
Siddhartha De (02) 6252 6519
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