Australian Mobile Phone Statistics 2023

Source: Open Signal

Internet and Mobile Device Users in Australia

Due to the availability of 4G and smartphones in Australia, accessing the internet at any time and place has become much easier. In addition to this, the country is also one of the developed countries with the fastest mobile internet speed.

Thus, it is unsurprising that internet surfers in Australia usually spend an average of 6.8 hours a day browsing online using various devices. However, around 55% of Australian web surfers said they prefer using mobile devices over their laptops or desktops to go online. 

Supporting this data is the percentage of Australian smartphone users that say they connect to the internet over 5 times a day (53%) and over 15 times a day (20%).

How Australians are Using Their Mobile Phones

Australians use their smart mobile devices to accomplish myriads of tasks conveniently. A great proportion of Australians use smartphones for social media and messaging apps. A Deloitte survey shows that more than 82% of Australians use their phones to communicate with their family and friends at least once a week.

Other uses of smartphones include taking photos, digital payments and money transfers, checking news and weather, tracking health and fitness, and gaming. Mobile phones used for entertainment such as watching live TV (45%) and streaming movies and TV series (23%) continuously increase. 

Furthermore, about 6 in 10 Australian households use their mobile devices instead of three other items like phone books, road directories, cameras, calculators, calendars, and alarm clocks.

Undeniably, mobile phones are an all-in-one device, making them a daily necessity. Around 94% of Australian smartphone users say they never leave their devices when they leave their houses. They take their phones more than they do their wallets and house keys.

How Australian Children Are Using Their Mobile Phones

Since 2015, Australia has seen a 5% increase (41% to 46%) in the number of children aged 6 to 13, use a mobile phone.

• 54% of children have neither owned nor have access to a mobile device
• 33% of children own the mobile device that they use
• 14% of children have access to a mobile device but don’t actually own it

Most Australian kids use their mobile phones to play games, take photos or videos, and use phone apps. All usage statistics show that the number of children engaging with or using their smartphones is on the rise.

Source: ACMA

Positive Effects of Mobile Phone Technology

The same Deloitte survey shows that two-thirds of Australians consider mobile phones helpful in their daily endeavours, and roughly half (48%) say they provide freedom. 

Additionally, more than 70% say that having smartphones gives them peace of mind and security since they can be used in case of an emergency. 

Here are some positive effects mobile phone technology offers.

• Social Connection – Whether through text messages, audio calls, video calls, or chat, smart devices allow for better and easier global communication.

• Convenience – With just a few taps on the screen, you can accomplish various tasks that you have to conduct physically in the past. This includes paying bills, hailing taxis, booking appointments, and even working and studying anytime.

• Physical Health Monitoring – At present, around 18% of the Australian population has adopted wearable mobile devices to monitor their health and track their fitness journey.

• Stay Updated – Mobile phones let you stay up to date with current happenings and trends.

Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Technology

Not everyone agrees that mobile phone technology has only brought about positive effects. In fact, 1 in 10 Australians find mobile phones annoying while 4 in 10 find them distracting. 

Additionally, 32% of smartphone users in Australia expressed that the use of mobile devices increases their stress and anxiety. Below are the downsides of mobile phone technology.

• Over-reliance on Mobile Phones – This is especially true in young people. One survey by Vodafone revealed that 45% of their customers say they cannot live without a mobile phone.

• Safety Risks – Security breach is a real threat to Australian smartphone users, and around 87% fear this from happening. Likewise, about 82% are concerned about their phones distracting them while driving.

The Impact of Mobile Devices on eCommerce

The merging of the internet and mobile phones has proven a powerful tool in businesses, especially in eCommerce. Smartphones have drastically transformed the way business owners conduct business online.

As the 10th largest eCommerce market by revenue worldwide, Australia tremendously benefits from mobile phone technology. In 2019, with 81% of the population shopping online, the number of online shoppers in the country is already at 20.3 million. 

This is expected to grow in 2021; the Australian eCommerce market is forecast to be at $35.2 billion. By that year, the number of online buyers will reach 22 million and the eCommerce market penetration level will be 85.2%.

Shopping and Searching for Services

Smart mobile devices opened up countless opportunities for shoppers to look for the products and services they need and the brand they want. 

Online mobile shoppers can even filter the search results according to their preference such as the location or service area, product colour and size, and more.

Online Purchasing and Booking

Mobile shopping allows for faster transactions through checkouts, digital payments and online booking. This eliminates the need to visit physical stores and pay over the counter for the goods you want.

Brand Awareness and Customer Engagement

Small and medium businesses (SMB) that employ digital strategies (such as leveraging SEO services, Google Ads or Facebook Advertising) have better chances of gaining leads and being known to their target market than brands with physical outlets only. 

Given Australia’s relatively high smartphone penetration level, companies can harness the full potential of presenting their brand online and making their website mobile-friendly. Besides, half of SMBs in Australia already employ mobile-friendly websites to drive leads.

Brand Loyalty

By providing a seamless and valuable mobile user experience, companies can build the trust of their customers and potential clients so that they will keep coming back. This would only be possible if they develop their site to be mobile-responsive, reliable, and functional all throughout.

We expect better network infrastructures and faster mobile data speed in the coming years. And with the introduction of 5G, more and more business opportunities are in store. 

Furthermore, it is forecast that there will be a steady increase in companies adopting digital technologies, so we can only look forward to a future where mobile devices play a major role in business and eCommerce.

If you want to read more industry insights and love fresh data, check out our other statistics posts:

• Australian Local SEO Statistics
• Australian Voice Search Statistics
• Australian Google Business Profile Statistics
• Australian eCommerce Statistics
• Australian Buy Now & Pay Later Statistics
• AI in Business & Marketing Statistics