INTERNET ACTIVITY
PURPOSE
To obtain detailed information on the demand for, and supply of, Internet services in Australia. Internet service provision is incorporated in the Electronic information services industry in the Australian Culture and Leisure Industry Classification.
DESCRIPTION
The Internet Activity Survey is conducted by mail questionnaire addressed to every Australian-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) operating during the reference period (quarter). ISPs are defined as businesses that supply Internet connectivity services to individuals, household, businesses and other organisations. Libraries, Internet kiosks and Internet cafes which provide Internet access on a casual basis are excluded from the survey. The primary source of the survey population frame is the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) with which ISPs are required to register. The TIO list is supplemented where necessary with ISPs identified from other sources such as Internet association membership lists and industry media.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Quarter data collected annually from the September quarter of 2006. Prior to this, quarter data was initially collected quarterly and then biannually.
DATA ITEMS
Number of businesses
The number of trading entities providing Internet access as at the end of the reference period.
Size of ISP
Internet Service Providers are classified by size according to the number of subscribers ISPs reported for at the end of the reporting period. The size categories are:
Very small ISP (1-100 subscribers)
Small ISP (101-1,000 subscribers)
Medium ISP (1,001-10,000 subscribers)
Large ISP (10,001-100,000 subscribers)
Very large ISP (100,001 or more subscribers)
Other characteristics of ISP
Number of access lines in operation at the end of the reporting period
Number of Points of Presence (POPs) in operation at the end of the reporting period
Numbers of subscribers
Number of new subscribers during the reporting period
Number of active subscribers at the end of the reporting period
Type of subscriber
Subscribers are denoted as:
Corporate, business and government
Household
Type of subscriber access
Subscribers are categorised by whether they have a dial-up subscription (including WAP subscribers) or permanent connection (including all broadband services).
Access technology
Dial-up and permanent access methods are categorised by the technology utilised:
Analog
Digital
Digital Subscriber Line (permanent access only)
Wireless (dial-up access only)
Cable (permanent access only)
Satellite
Microwave (permanent access only)
Other
Access plans
Data are collected for the following types of subscriber access plans:
Free access
Monthly, quarterly or annual access
Hourly
Volume only
Other
Volume of data downloaded
The volume of data downloaded (in Megabytes) by subscribers during the reporting period.
Access support services provided to clients by ISPs
Online support services
Business hours help desk support service
Extended hours help desk support service
24 hr help desk support service
Pager service
Call out/on site support service
Start up/disk package
Other related services provided by ISPs
Web hosting
Web design
Training services
Network/Systems integration
Secure access or transactions
Geographical areas or characteristics
State, Territory and Statistical Division
Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA)
HISTORICAL DATA
Data were collected quarterly from the September quarter of 2000 until the September quarter of 2001. Thereafter the survey was conducted biannually for the March and September quarters until the March quarter of 2005. It was then suspended pending the outcome of a review, but resumed with a survey of only the largest 35 internet service providers in respect of the June quarter of 2006. The full collection resumed for the September quarter of 2006 and is now conducted annually for the September quarter.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Internet Activity, Australia, Cat. no. 8153.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $22.00. Quarter data are available quarterly from September 2000 to September 2001, biannually from March 2002 to March 2005, and annually from September 2006. There is also some data available for the June quarter of 2006.
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Manager
Internet Activity Survey
Australian Bureau of Statistics
GPO Box K881
PERTH WA 9842
Telephone: Perth 08 9360 5104
Facsimile: Perth 08 9360 5950
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au