+ Follow

Broadband in Australia - commonplace but why?

by Matthew Allen

588 views

Presentation from the Broadband in Society symposium I organised at Curtin University in December 2011. I briefly outline the current state of broadband use in Australia, and explore questions we must ...

Accessibility

View text version

Upload Details

Uploaded via SlideShare as Microsoft PowerPoint

Usage Rights

File a copyright complaint

6 Embeds 334

http://www.netcrit.net	261
http://doc.gold.ac.uk	39
http://netcrit.net.	17
http://igor.gold.ac.uk	12
http://paper.li	3
http://us-w1.rockmelt.com	2

Statistics

Likes: 0
Downloads: 1
Comments: 0
Embed Views: 334
Views on SlideShare: 254
Total Views: 588

Broadband in Australia - commonplace but why? Presentation Transcript

Broadband in Australiacommonplace...but why does it matter? Matthew Allen Internet Studies, Curtin University http://netcrit.net

The normalisation of Internet connectivity Australia 1998 - 2008Based on ABS data• In the 10 years of the Internet expansion, access for households has gone from 16% to 72%.• By 2008, the vast majority of connections were at broadband speeds (>256 Kbps)• Low incomes, regional location and lack of children were the primary reasons for not being connected Source: Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2008-09 8146.0 - Australian Bureau of Statistics

Changes in Internet connectivity Australia, 2006-2011Source: Internet Activity, Australia, June 2011, 8153.0 - Australian Bureau of Statistics

Comparison computer & mobile phone access Australia, 2009-2010Access type 2009 2010 changeComputer only(desktop and portable) 12.2 12.9 6%Both mobile phone handsetand computer 1.8 3.0 63%Mobile phone handset only 0.030 0.074 147% Source: The internet service market and Australians in the online environment ACMA July 2011

Evidence for the importance of connectivity, Australia 2010The Internet has now, in Australia, become an everyday,essential part of most Australians’ lives. For example:• 74% of users rate the Internet as important for news (40% for television, newspapers, radio)• 80%+ check email at least daily• “Three-quarters of users feel that the internet makes life easier while more than 9 in 10 say that it is a fast and efficient means to gain information”• “Across almost all activities that we asked about, there was an increase in the proportion of people undertaking the activity as well as an increase in frequency” Source: CCi Digital Futures 2010: The Internet in Australia (Ewing and Thomas, 2010)

Experience of Connectivity“Using the Internet helps me to...”Range is from 3 (max) to 1 (min) Source: The Experience of Connectivity, Allen (2010) ICS 13:3

Research for social broadband• Multiple forms of connection: but one underlying sense of ‘connectedness’ (everywhere, everywhen) – how do all access forms contribute to a sense of connectivity?• How does connectivity change over time, through life stages and circumstances, especially for younger people becoming adult and long-time adult users growing older?