'Do Not Call' Rise Along with Digital Economy Growth

The latest report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, reveals there are now almost nine million telephone numbers listed on the Do Not Call Register – an increase of more than one million in 12 months.

The figure is part of the annual report tabled in Federal Parliament which found Australia’s digital economy again grew strongly during 2012-13 with increases in internet usage, consumer choice and mobile access to the internet.

“The size of the (Do Not Call) register is an overwhelming endorsement of its effectiveness in significantly reducing telemarketing calls,” Australian Communications and Media Authority Chairman Chris Chapman said.

“And public interest in the register continues to grow strongly, with one million new numbers being added in the last 12 months.”

Currently, the register includes around five million landlines and 3.85 million mobile numbers.

“Despite the extraordinarily rapid rate of change, Australians seem to be adapting reasonably confidently and relatively seamlessly to an Internet-enabled world,” Chapman said.

“Usage is up, choices and platforms are growing, mobility is all-consuming and our online experience is getting deeper and more intense, as we do more and more activities via the internet.”

Mobility was an increasing feature of online participation with 7.5 million Australians using the internet via their mobile phone during June 2013, an increase of 33 per cent (or 10 percentage points) compared to June 2012 and a telling 510 per cent since June 2008.

At June 2013, 10.81 million people went online more than once a day—a 7 per cent increase compared to the same time last year and a 72 per cent increase from June 2008.

Internet users also performed more activities online, with 43 per cent undertaking five or more separate online activities during the month of June 2013, up from 39 per cent during June 2012 and only 12 per cent during June 2008.

The report said the rapid evolution within the digital economy is also reflected in the diversification of consumer communication choices and the continuing shift to mobile devices.

In the six months to May 2013, 62 per cent of adult Australians used five or more separate communication services and 53 per cent identified a mobile phone as their most used communication service, compared to only 16 per cent who identified a fixed-line telephone.

Smartphones are increasingly core to Australians’ communications choices, with 11.19 million smartphone users in Australia at May 2013, up 29 per cent since May 2012.

The take-up of devices such as smartphones and tablets has also seen a jump in the use of VoIP, with mobile VoIP users increasing by 73 per cent to 1.06 million and tablet VoIP users increasing by 150 per cent to 966,000.

Daily life snapshot:

• 14.24 million Australians had access to the internet in their home at June 2013, an increase of two per cent since June 2012.
• At June 2013, 98 per cent of active users accessed the internet at home.
• Half of users accessed the internet at work.
• 5.64 million people use the internet to work away from the office, the so called "digital workers".
• 12.86 million people used online banking or bill paying in the six months to May 2013, up 10 per cent since May 2012.
• At June 2013, there were 31.09 million mobile services in operation in Australia, up 3 per cent since June 2012.
• At May 2013, 11.19 million people had a smartphone, up 2 per cent from May 2012.
• During June 2013, 7.5 million Australians accessed the internet via their mobile phones, an increase of 33 per cent from June 2012.
• 42 per cent of adults accessed the internet via a mobile phone during June 2013, compared to 32 per cent during June 2012.

Click here or see the Communications Report “Fast Facts”.