Broadband Internet usage in Australia in 2024
As of January 2024, Australia has over 25 million internet users. Our population stands at 26.57 million, that’s a whopping 94.9 percent of the population that access the internet on a daily basis.* In this month’s blog we will look at some of the broadband internet trends ahead for 2024 and how we will use the internet in our daily lives.
Internet NBN Speed in 2024
Below is a map illustrating the average NBN fixed-line performance during the hours of 7-11pm, Monday to Friday. This map does not include underperforming or broken services and excludes very high speed services, according to the ACCC.
The speeds ranged from 94.9%-100.1% of plan speed for download and 83.0%-89.5% for upload. (as at December 2023).#
NBN and Faster Speeds in 2024
The NBN promises to boost speeds on certain plans in 2024 that benefit a large amount of Australia’s population. But will this come at a cost to consumers?
NBN Co announced in March 2024 that some, but not all, of its speed tiers would be “turbo-charged”. The upgrade will apply to its faster, more expensive, packages, including:
- NBN Home Fast, to move from 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speed to 500Mbps, and 20Mbps upload speed to 50Mbps.
- NBN Home Superfast, to move from 250Mbps download speed to 750Mbps, and 25Mbps upload speed to 50Mbps.
- NBN Home Ultrafast, to move from between 500 to 1000Mbps download speed to between 750-1000Mbps, and 50Mbps upload speed to between 50-100Mbps.
To achieve the above – Customers will need a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connection to access the faster speeds. For those users who are already connected to higher speed broadband plans, they will be automatically upgraded. Although they may need a new modem or router to achieve the ‘turbo-charged’ speeds.
The 5G Revolution
2024 will see the expansion of the 5G network not only to cities but to remote areas of each state in Australia. Users will experience improved consistent connectivity and faster speeds.
Outstanding Customer Experience
The major players are pushing their teams to offer users a more personalised experience with their broadband plan offerings tailored to their needs. This will provide better service and response times to customers.
Affordable Connectivity
In 2024, keep an eye out for more affordable broadband internet packages. Providers are making efforts to offer more services that won’t break the bank.
IoT Integration
As we move into 2024 expect to see the Internet of Things (IoT) devices everywhere. They are not only making homes smarter, they are also changing industries across Australia.
Internet Usage in 2024
Access to Social Media
At present Facebook has over 16.5 million users in Australia as per published data by Meta’s ad resources. It’s potential reach in Australia
YouTube
As of January 2024, there are over 20 million YouTube users in Australia according to Google’s advertising resources.
Instagram users are slightly lower than Facebook in the Australian market standing at nearly 14 million users in early 2024. Over 50% of Instagram’s audience are female.
TikTok
Targeted at a younger audience, TikTok has around 9.73 million in Australia according to ByteDance’s advertising resources.
Online Gaming
Players can connect with people globally through the internet, battling it out on various platforms. Multiplayer platforms and online gaming have become increasingly popular over the years, expect to see an exponential growth in this area for 2024.
Working from Home
Since Covid19 businesses are open to allowing more and more employees to work from home. In fact, most new employee contracts since Covid include a work from home or hybrid model. Employees use email, various video conferencing and team apps to communicate with each other, customers, and other stakeholders.
Streaming Services
Services such as Netflix, Apple TV, Stan, Prime, Disney and more allow users to watch unlimited content. All subscription services, the content can be viewed from any smart device with a wireless broadband connection. It’s the way of the future, having access to an endless collection of entertainment at our fingertips.
Banking
When internet banking started to take off in Australia we saw more and more bricks and mortar banks close their doors. Users adopted Net Banking with enthusiasm, making transfers and payments from their mobile phones, tablets or laptops. Having access to funds 24/7 proved successful for users that didn’t have to wait until the next day to perform transactions once the bank had closed for the day.
Education
Today children and teachers alike, use the internet to learn and teach. Students of all ages are granted access via the schools WiFi to access online information, tutorials, learning programs and in some states even attending classes online in virtual classrooms.
Research
People use the internet for a wide range of purposes, but one of the most common uses is research. Searching for articles, books, reviews, reports, products and pretty much any topic you can think of. Google in particular gives browsers the ability to search a vast amount of information globally. Some of the more popular research platforms are Medium, HBR, Google Scholar and more, giving users access to white papers and articles – pretty much replacing libraries.
Shopping
Online shopping is a revolution of a new way to shop for over 40 years. It’s come a long way where brands now opt for an online only e-store instead of a bricks and mortar store. Not only does this save money for the brands, it gives shoppers access to their store 24/7.
Communication
Over the years, the internet has given us so many more ways to communicate – email, instant messaging, social media, online discussion forums, video chat and more. These communication tools make it easier to connect worldwide on a daily basis.
As you navigate the evolving landscape of broadband plans in Australia, it’s clear that significant advancements in technology, the NBN and broadband plans will shape how we connect and interact online. With NBN promising faster and more reliable internet for 2024 and with the expansion of 5G into remote areas, you can expect to experience unprecedented levels of connectivity. This shift will only enhance the lives of Australians, opening up new options to services, communication, education and work opportunities. As the affordability of broadband plans continues to improve, it will give us access to cutting-edge digital technology. Whether you’re streaming your Favorite show, working from home, or simply browsing the web, the trends of 2024 promise a more connected and convenient online experience for all.
Talk to our friendly team today to find out more about a suitable broadband plan for your specific needs. Call us 1300 001 958 or email us at hello@broadband.compare