The ACMA has reported that general Internet use continues to grow, with Australians downloading huge amounts of data and using it for business and personal transactions.

In its Communications Report for 2008-09, ACMA said that Australians downloaded 99,993 terabits of data during the June quarter of 2009 compared with 55,434 terabits during the same period in 2008. Australians also viewed 46.6 billion web pages from home compared with 38.9 billion in 2008. In addition, the number of Australians banking and shopping online has increased from 63 per cent in 2008 to 67 percent in 2009.

There were 8.4 million Internet subscribers in Australia at June 2009, up from 7.2 million at June 2008. ACMA said that nearly 80 per cent of Australians have an Internet service at home, most of which (90 per cent) are broadband enabled. Broadband (non dial-up) Internet subscribers have risen from 5.66 million to 6.72 million.

Mobile services also experienced growth, with 12.28 million services in operation at June 2009 compared with 8.55 million at June 2008. Wireless broadband subscribers accounted for 25 per cent of all Internet subscribers at June 2009, up from 11 per cent at June 2008.

ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman said, ‘Digital convergence is well and truly with us. During 2008-09, Australians continued to adopt new communication and media services and adapt their usage patterns to meet their specific lifestyle needs. Services such as 3G, VoIP and wireless broadband internet are being increasingly used, with factors such as lifestyle, age and family type shaping these choices.'

See the full report here.