Australians increasingly rely on digital communications in work and leisure

[news release] The ACMA Communications Report 2007-08, which has been tabled in Federal Parliament, demonstrates the impact the internet and other digital communications are having on the everyday lives of most Australians.’Australian consumers and businesses are increasingly reliant on the use of digital communications technologies for work and leisure, and the internet is transforming traditional communication and broadcasting services,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. ‘Using the internet is an everyday experience for many Australians, with more than 11.5 million people (aged 2 years and over) online during any month.’Fifty five per cent of Australians are identified as ‘heavy’ internet users, going online eight or more times a week. A further 35 per cent go online between one and seven times a week.The importance of the digital economy for undertaking commercial transactions is reflected in Australian consumers’ favourite online activities, which include banking, paying bills, and shopping. Australian businesses have also embraced the internet with 97 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) being connected to the internet and 94 per cent of these using broadband. Strong growth in the online presence of Australian businesses is also clear from growth in the number of registered ‘.com.au’ domain names from 795,638 at 30 June 2007 to 1,009,347 at 30 June 2008.The mobile phone sector continued to grow over 2007-08 with 22.12 million mobile services at 30 June 2008.’A lot more Australians are now able to access the internet while they are on the go,’ said Mr Chapman.The number of 3G customers reached 8.55 million, an increase of 88 per cent from 4.56 million at 30 June 2007.The ACMA Communications Report 2007-08 provides an overview of the telecommunications, broadcasting and radiocommunications industries in Australia, including industry performance in meeting statutory service obligations.The report also includes an analysis of the economic benefits resulting from changes in telecommunications services over 2007-08 and finds the increase in consumer surplus attributable to the telecommunications industry is approximately $3.2 billion in 2007-08.The report is available on ACMA’s website at www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311541.BackgrounderThe ACMA Communications Report 2007-08 fulfils ACMA’s statutory obligations to report to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on telecommunications performance (under section 105 of the Telecommunications Act 1997).The report provides an overview of the communications industry, service developments and industry performance in meeting statutory service obligations. It also reports on consumer satisfaction and benefits arising from telecommunications services.Data in the report is drawn from a range of sources including information reported by industry, ACMA’s research using third-party public sources and commissioned surveys and analysis.The table below provides a snapshot of key indicators at 30 June 2008 compared with 30 June 2007 (unless otherwise indicated).This news release, along with a table on Key communications indicators, is available from http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311563.