Australians more tech-aware

Telecommunications and the internet are becoming increasingly embedded in the lives of Australians, says an Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) survey released today.

A primary finding of the survey was that 80% of Australians now have access to broadband internet. In 2005, an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) survey found that only 13.8% of the population subscribed to a broadband service.

The ACMA survey also found that Australians are becoming more aware of emerging telecommunication services, with 30% of mobile phone users reported having a 3G mobile phone and 21% of them having used a voice over IP service.

A person's reliance on these technologies was found to be significantly influenced by several socioeconomic factors, with age and having children being significant predictors of uptake of mobile phones and broadband internet.

The results are drawn from a series of consumer focus groups and a national survey targeting adult Australians in April, 2007.