The internet – and specifically broadband internet – has become imbedded in Australians’ day-to-day economic and social life. With 73 percent of Australian households now having access to the internet, the ACMA report finds that, overall, household internet users are accessing the internet more frequently, with an increasing number recording ‘heavy’ usage (eight or more times per week).

Joseph Di Gregorio, Manager, Market Analysis at ACMA, says: “The internet has had a substantial impact on Australia, underpinning the growth in e-commerce; changing communication patterns and how people access entertainment.”

He says that the internet has led to changes in how Australians participate in activities such as communication, commerce, work and entertainment. Broadband has led to an increase in how frequent users access these applications, with greater speeds allowing for an increased variety of activities and a wide range of services that Australians are now accessing online – including applications, content and media services.

Age has been a determining factor in the type of activities consumers choose to perform online. E-mail is the most common application across all age groups. Streaming videos and online banking feature in the top five activities of all age groups. As well as e-mailing and paying bills, other popular online activities among Australians include reading the news and weather updates.

Di Gregorio says that purchasing products and services and paying bills online has been one of the main changes to Australian consumers’ behavior. Another is that more traditional forms of entertainment are being used less by younger people, with new forms of online entertainment, such as downloading videos, podcasts, music and television, becoming more common.

With the shift of activity to the internet, Di Gregorio says there needs to be more caution about security and trust regarding Australians’ online behaviors particularly when transacting online or using social-networking sites.

The report is the sixth and final one in the ACMA’s Telecommunication Today series on consumer use of and attitudes towards communication services.

Telecommunications Today is designed to assist the ACMA in its role as industry regulator and is consistent with its regulatory responsibilities to provide information about the telecommunications industry.

Previous reports examined consumer, farm and SME take-up and use of services; satisfaction with telecommunications services; and consumer choice and service preferences.

Carmen López-Clavero