Broadband subscribers break 3 million mark

Australia’s take up of broadband services has passed three million connections, according to the latest Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Snapshot of Broadband Deployment.

"The report shows that as at the end of March 2006, there were 3,161,600 broadband services connected across Australia", said ACCC Commissioner, Ed Willett.

"As with the results of the previous quarter, this represents an increase of over one million customers, or 78 percent, over the preceding 12-month period. However, the bullish growth reported throughout 2004-2005 as a result of a more competitive broadband market has steadied somewhat".

Total quarterly growth in broadband was 13.5 percent for the March quarter. This is marginally up from the December 2005 growth (12.7 percent).

Willett said although the take up of ADSL services continues to outstrip other broadband technologies, an increasing number of customers have elected a wireless connection.

“Take up of other broadband technologies, including wireless, grew by 34 percent in the quarter, albeit off a low base".