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Australia Telecommunications Report Q3 2009Product Type: Market Research ReportPublished by: Business Monitor International Published: July 2009 Product Code: R302-7052 Description Our latest update on Australia’s telecommunications market includes expanded market data sectionscovering the country’s fixed-line and internet sectors. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics(ABS), Australia had a total of 7.996mn internet subscribers at the end of 2008 (equivalent to 38.1%penetration). In 2008, the number of broadband subscriptions rose by 28.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) to reach6.685mn. By the end of 2008, Australia’s broadband penetration rate had reached 31.8%.One of the most significant developments which is currently shaping the Australian broadband market isthe move by several operators towards much higher-speed services. In announcing its results for the firsthalf of its financial year ending December 2008, incumbent telecoms company Telstra reported that ithad experienced a 114.6% increase in the number of subscribers on plans with speeds of 20Mbps orgreater. Meanwhile, in March, alternative broadband provider Internode launched its ‘Extreme’symmetric high-speed digital subscriber line (SHDSL) services in Adelaide, targeting medium-sizedbusinesses. The new service offers uplink and downlink speeds of between 5Mbps and 40Mbps. Our newly revised broadband forecast for Australia envisages broadband penetration rising to just over37% at the end of 2009. By the end of our forecast in 2013, we now envisage a penetration rate of 45%.Our cautious outlook is based partly on delays that have characterised government and operator efforts toaddress the problem of low broadband coverage in rural parts of Australia. Australia’s telecoms market has seen a number of important developments in recent months. Among themis the news that the Australian government plans to institute a public-private company to develop itsproposed national broadband network (NBN). According to reports, the government will hold a 51%stake in the new venture. It may also offer Telstra the chance to buy up to 49% of the proposed nationalbroadband network, if it agrees to a voluntary separation of its wholesale operations. Other major developments include the March announcement that Primus Telecom had filed forbankruptcy protection. Meanwhile, in April 2009, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissionexpressed concerns over the planned joint venture between Vodafone Australia and Hutchison 3GAustralia (H3G), first unveiled in February 2009. The regulator has suggested that the tie-up could leadto increased tariffs and that competition in the wireless sector in the short and medium term could beaffected. Subject to regulatory approval the merger is expected to be completed by the middle of 2009,with each company taking a 50% stake in the joint venture. BMI’s latest set of Business Environment Rankings for Asia sees Australia move one place up our table,overtaking South Korea. Australia’s Country Risk score remains well above the regional average for thiscategory. This is in spite of new uncertainly surrounding the potential for economic recovery. Table of Contents
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