Australia - Mobile Broadband - Statistical Overview and Forecasts

Synopsis

Mobile broadband using the 3G networks has expanded rapidly over the past year as Australians continue to adopt new and alternative communication methods and media services, and adapt their usage patterns to meet their specific lifestyle needs. In the last year growth in mobile broadband across Australia exceeded 70%, while the percentage of mobile broadband subscriptions versus total connections has continued to rise.

The expansion rate in Australia closely mimics the global uptake of mobile broadband where four billion subscriptions will possibly be exceeded by 2015. In the longer term with the increase in connected devices and the increased availability of mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, the amount of mobile data downloaded is likely to exceed 600 petabytes by 2020 in Australia.

During 2011/12 BuddeComm estimates that the total mobile broadband market will generate revenues up 17% from 2010, the vast majority of which will be accounted for by 3G mobile broadband revenues. Last year, growth continued across a range of platforms and technologies with the use of 3G mobile and wireless broadband services growing by 70%.

The use of 4G fixed wireless in the National Broadband Network rollout across regional and rural Australia will also boot uptake of mobile broadband usage.

This report provides an overview of the mobile broadband market in Australia, including usage statistics, industry estimates and forecasts, and analysis of key market trends. The information is provided in text, tabular and easy-to-read chart formats. Information on the major operators in the fixed-wireless market are covered in a separate report: Australia - Mobile Broadband - Major Operators.

Companies mentioned

Companies mentioned in this report include – BigAir, vividwireless, Unwired, Optus, Telstra, Ericsson, NBN Co, VHA, Market Clarity, Google, Apple.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Market overview and analysis
  • 2.1 Analysis of the market as average revenue per user (ARPU) drops in 2011
  • 2.2 Infrastructure to drive further expansion
  • 2.3 Applications drive the market
  • 2.4 Spectrum shortage
  • 2.5 Mobile broadband revolution set to change the industry
  • 2.6 Hardware drives applications
  • 2.7 User prices still too high
  • 2.8 Use of Unified Communications increasing
• 3. Wireless broadband market statistics
  • 3.1 Mobile broadband subscribers
  • 3.2 Mobile broadband revenues
  • 3.3 Mobile broadband market
  • 3.4 Fixed wireless broadband market
    • 3.4.1 Overview
• 4. Forecasts and other developments
  • 4.1 4G Wireless National Broadband Network (NBN) for regional Australia
  • 4.2 Fixed/mobile call market
  • 4.3 Predicted value between $10-$15 billion
  • 4.4 Revenue forecasts
• 5. Australia - mobile media – premium rate SMS (PSMS) portals and apps (separate report)
• 6. Related reports
  • 6.1 Market reports
  • 6.2 Technology reports
  • Table 1 – Wireless broadband subscribers by access type and annual change – 2007 - 2012
  • Table 2 – 3G mobile broadband subscribers by mobile operator – 2007 - 2011
  • Table 3 – Total fixed mobile broadband revenues and annual change – 2007 - 2011
  • Table 4 – Mobile broadband monthly ARPU – 2007 - 2012
  • Table 5 – Estimated mobile broadband revenue revenues by operator – 2008 - 2011
  • Table 6 – Fixed wireless broadband subscribers by major operator – 2008 - 2011
  • Table 7 – Forecast mobile broadband and voice revenues – 2008; 2013; 2018
  • Chart 1 – Estimated mobile broadband data downloaded in petabytes – 2007 - 2011; 2015; 2020
  • Chart 2 – Estimated mobile broadband revenue by operator – 2008 - 2011