The take-up of broadband services is approaching three million connections, according to the latest Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Snapshot of Broadband Deployment issued today.
"The report shows that as at the end of December 2005, there were 2,785,000 broadband services connected across Australia. Of these, more than two million were ADSL connections", ACCC Commissioner, Mr Ed Willett, said.
Total quarterly growth in broadband was 12.1 per cent for the December 2005 quarter.
"The December results complete the overall trend of consistent growth in broadband take-up throughout 2005. Although growth in the December quarter was down on previous quarters, 2005 saw the take-up of broadband services increase by 85 per cent, which amounted to an increase of over 1.25 million customers.
"In 2005, it was the take-up of DSL broadband that by far exhibited the strongest growth. However, there was also steady growth in the take-up of broadband delivered by other technologies, including satellite and cable. There are also signs that take-up of wireless broadband services is beginning to increase, albeit off a limited base".
Media inquiries
Mr Michael Cosgrave, Group General Manager, Communications Group, (03) 9290 1914or 0416 043 160
Ms Lin Enright, Media, (02) 6243 1108or 0414 613 520
The report details the deployment of broadband services throughout Australia as at 31 December 2005 and is based on data provided by major carriers of broadband services. The report includes aggregated data in relation to the availability of broadband services and gives estimated numbers of services in operation in respect of cable, satellite, ADSL, other DSL and miscellaneous offerings (including additional wireless figures). It should be noted, however, that not all broadband providers are included in this survey and therefore, the ACCC considers that the figures presented may understate total subscriber numbers. The ACCC is currently also working to resolve some outstanding data issues to enhance the integrity of the data.
Main findings:
as at 31 December 2005 total broadband take-up was 2,785,000
broadband take-up has increased by 1,280,100 or 85 per cent, from the December 2004 figure of 1,504,900
the take-up of ADSL services is now at 2,013,300
growth of DSL-based services continues to be significant
the take-up of wireless broadband services appeared to increase in the December quarter. However, as not all wireless providers have provided data to the ACCC, the take-up figures are incomplete, although the ACCC does not expect that this is to a material extent, and
total quarterly growth in broadband was at 12.1 per cent for the December 2005 quarter: - this is down from the September 2005 figure (18 per cent).
