Research Reviews

Connectedness to the internet is a matter that is important for Australians in order to engage in educational activities, access information and tele-communicate. Today, there are many points of access to the internet such as desktop computers, laptops, mobiles, tablets and other processing devices. The methods of connection are as diverse, with a range of methods for fixed line access and wireless access. Wireless access could include satellite, fixed wireless, mobile wireless, via datacard, dongle, USB modem or tablet SIM and other wireless broadband, suggests the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). In a recently released report on Internet Activity in Australia, Dec 2011 by the ABS the number of ‘mobile wireless internet (excluding mobile handset) connections (44%) now exceed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections (41%) in Australia’ (p. 2). This finding excludes mobile handsets but the fact that some mobile handsets can act as internet conduits for wireless internet connections complicates matters further. Something to bear in mind in this discussion is that wireless connections to the internet frequently require fixed line infrastructure. However, what is not ambiguous is that Australians are moving towards mobile internet access using a variety of methods.