[LINK] Fewer Australians subscribing to broadband

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

  Fewer Australians subscribing to broadband
Ari Sharp
SMH
June 14, 2010
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/fewer-australians-subscribing-to-broadband-20100613-y614.html

Australia is one of only two developed countries where the take-up of 
broadband internet connections declined last year, new figures show.

Figures for 31 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation 
and Development show the number of broadband subscribers per 100 of the 
population slipped 0.55 last year in Australia. Finland recorded an even 
bigger slide.

In contrast, broadband take-up grew 1.39 per 100 of the population in 
the US, 1.69 in South Korea and 2.96 in Germany, leaving the OECD 
average at 1.47.

An industry analyst, Paul Budde, said Australia's slide might be a 
reflection of many people opting for wireless internet services, such as 
through their mobile phone, rather than a broadband connection.

He said he did not believe this trend would cause alarm for the 
government's proposed national broadband network, because customers 
requiring a service with greater bandwidth would still rely on fixed 
line services.

That view was backed by John Hilvert, communications director for the 
Internet Industry Association, who cited earlier OECD research showing 
Australia had the third highest usage of mobile internet devices.

''People in Australia love competition, and at the moment wireless is 
better value for money and more flexible,'' he said.

The latest figures leave Australia in 17th place for overall broadband 
take-up, with 23.3 connections per 100 of the population. That matches 
the average for the 31 countries in the study.

Broadband penetration appears to roughly match economic development. The 
Netherlands and Denmark (both 37.1) sit on top of the table while Chile 
(9.6), Mexico (9.2) and Turkey (9.0) make up the rear.

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Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
email:	 brd at iimetro.com.au
website: www.drbrd.com