nbn™ connected Aussies gobble up 23 per cent more data per year than the average home

nbn’s Executive General Manager, Product and Pricing, Sarah Palmer said: 

• The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Internet Activity Report, released today shows Aussies downloaded a record high 2.5 billion GB of data in 2016 (in the 3 months ending 31 December), with the average home downloading 117GB per month, a 41 per cent year-on-year increase.
• Homes connected to services over the nbn™ network are downloading around 144GB of data each month which is a 32 per cent year-on-year increase and around 1.2 times the national fixed-line average and 76 times the mobile average.
• When streaming services such as Netflix and Stan entered Australian living rooms in 2015 we saw an unprecedented surge in data consumption over the nbn™ network. These figures confirm Australia’s insatiable appetite for consuming online content is continuing to grow.
• With forecasts from Telsyte showing the amount of connected devices is predicted to grow from 14 to 29 by 2020*, access to fast broadband will be critical in allowing us to continue to enjoy uninterrupted viewing on multiple devices at the same time.
• It’s important for households who stream a lot of online content to speak with their service provider and choose a plan which suits their needs as well as check they have the correct in-home equipment so they can enjoy the best internet experience possible.
• There are now 2 million households and businesses which have signed up to the nbn network through a retail service provider

Notes to editors

• Total downloads on nbn™ network = 646 million GB (Oct – Dec 2016).
• The average subscriber or household on the nbn™ network downloaded 144 GB of data per month from Oct to Dec 2016 (up 32 per cent year on year).
• The average subscriber or household on the nbn™ network uploaded 16 GB of data from Oct to Dec 2016 (steady year on year).
• The average household or subscriber’s total usage (upload and download) on the nbn™ network was 160 GB of data from Oct to Dec 2016. (up 28 per cent year on year).
• nbn connected Aussies refers to Australians connected to services over the nbn™ network.
• *From Telsyte Australian Digital Consumer Study 2017.

For more information, visit www.nbnco.com.au

About nbn:

• nbn is building a new and upgraded, fast wholesale broadband network to enable communities across Australia to access fast broadband from their retail service provider. Our goal is to connect eight million homes and businesses by 2020.
• The rollout of the nbn™ access network sets the scene for the biggest transformation to Australia’s telecommunications industry involving retail service provider network upgrades and the establishment of a network of networks to bring fast broadband to all Australians. 
• Connecting to the nbn™ network is not automatic and is a process which may take some time and preparation. nbn is working with the service providers and industry to help them better understand who is responsible for which portions of their internet experience and what steps they can take in order to receive the best possible service.
• The speeds experienced on services over the nbn™ network are determined by a range of factors such as the technology used to deliver the network as well as some factors outside our control like equipment quality, software, broadband plans, signal reception and how your service provider designs their network.
• Fast broadband like that delivered via the nbn™ network can provide a range of benefits for Australians such as opportunities to work from home, access to online education tools and options for on-demand entertainment.