Mobile communications in Australia - statistics & facts
Australia has a relatively strong telecommunications network with a wide range of infrastructure in place enabling individuals and businesses to communicate across the country. Telecommunications is the transmission of information through technology over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. In a practical sense, it allows people to communicate through telephone services, be informed or entertained via radio and television networks, and perform many activities using the internet. A vital industry segment is mobile communications, which uses mobile networks through cellular technologies. The total number of mobile phone connections in Australia was around 32 million.
On the consumer side, mobile apps were mainly used for social networking, communicating, and entertainment. In 2019, over half of Australians would consider using 5G as an alternative to the National Broadband Network. The cost of mobile internet might be a limiting factor, with the median mobile retail cost ranging between two to four Australian dollars per gigabyte. Nevertheless, with faster and more reliable mobile internet becoming increasingly important for everyday activities and 5G continuing to be rolled out across the country, the mobile internet penetration looks set to continue rising.
The big three mobile carriers
Telstra held the largest market share of mobile services in the country, with Optus and Vodafone trailing behind. The three major mobile network operators have faced little competition from other operators; Telstra and Optus are two of the most valuable brands in Australia. Telstra’s network coverage is the highest in the country and its hold on the market has remained steady over the past decade. Following a merger with TPG, Vodafone Australia became a subsidiary of TPG Telecom in 2020, which has expanded TPG Telecom’s share of the mobile network market.Mobile internet
Telstra, Optus, and TPG Telecom are accelerating the country's 5G mobile network rollout. The implications of an extensive 5G network are significant and far-reaching across many industries, particularly those dependent on the internet of things (IoT). Agriculture, healthcare, and mining are just a few industries that have seen increased IoT usage in Australia.On the consumer side, mobile apps were mainly used for social networking, communicating, and entertainment. In 2019, over half of Australians would consider using 5G as an alternative to the National Broadband Network. The cost of mobile internet might be a limiting factor, with the median mobile retail cost ranging between two to four Australian dollars per gigabyte. Nevertheless, with faster and more reliable mobile internet becoming increasingly important for everyday activities and 5G continuing to be rolled out across the country, the mobile internet penetration looks set to continue rising.
