WiFi Statistics Australia 2024

The advent of 5G network and high-speed mobile connectivity consequently pushed WiFi technologies to new frontiers, unlocking new possibilities for businesses and users to improve workflow, data acquisition, interconnectivity, and productivity.

Wireless connectivity is becoming vital for industries, institutions, and businesses, especially with the rise of automation, AI, IoT, 5G computing, and big data processing. It’s a no-brainer that WiFi plays a key role in urban and rural settings in Australia.

At Red Search, we compiled the latest usage and security statistics to inform you about how Aussies use WiFi to stay connected, informed, and productive in today’s increasingly digital world.

WiFi Internet Usage in Australia

Wireless connectivity is becoming more widespread across the country as 4G and 5G networks proliferate in Australia. As of January 2024, there were 25.21 million Australian internet users aged 16-64 years old.

That puts Australia’s internet penetration rate at almost 95% in the same period (January 2024). An analysis by Kepios shows that Australian internet users grew by +1 per cent, equivalent to almost 248 thousand users, from 2023 to 2024.

In other words, approximately 1.36 million Aussies did not have internet access at the start of 2024, or 5.1% of the population was offline at the same period.

A study by the Australian Communications and Media Authority shows how Australians connect to or access the Internet. The figures revealed that 35% of Australians use at least 5 devices to connect to the Internet, slightly dropping from 46% in 2020 to 41% in 2022.

Furthermore, 22% of families use 4 devices to connect to WiFi networks, 21% use up to 3 devices, 15% connect via 2 devices, and only 7% connect to the internet with only one device.

Wireless Smart Device Adoption Statistics 2024

A Statista survey reveals that from 2017 to 2023, the number of consumers equipped with smart devices increased by 60%, from 45% in 2017 to 105% in 2023. 

The data reveals how more Aussies increasingly rely on internet connectivity for entertainment, gaming, productivity, and research, among many other usage factors.

Source: Statista

Smart device adoptions have been more prevalent, with 21% of Aussies embracing smart wireless lighting and wearables. About 26% used wireless connectivity on IoT devices like smart microwaves and robot cleaners.

For businesses, 64% rely on wireless security cameras connected via 4G and 5G networks for cloud monitoring—a 6% increase from the last year. Wireless sensors and digital signage have also found their way into the spotlight, with more than 50% of businesses and organisations using them in the last year.

It’s safe to say that smart devices have been well-embraced in the Australian household and industries. Thanks to wireless technologies, they are convenient and accessible, helping people and businesses set them up faster and enabling wireless capabilities for a safer and more streamlined workspace.

How Australian 5G Impacts WiFi

With 5G slowly rolling out in Australia at more than 4,000 operational 5G base stations by the end of 2021, wireless home networks are starting to catch up with wired connections.

The number of wired broadband connections in 2021 stood ahead of WiFi networks. However, both have shown dramatic growth over three years, with many workers deployed in home offices, utilising readily available DSL and wired networks.

On the other hand, WiFi will eventually catch up and become the leading option as wireless connectivity needs to increase by 68% with 4G/5G usage. That’s a 12% gap from the forecasted cable/DSL growth of 56%.

Looking at the business landscape, about 50% of all organisations and businesses utilising 4G/5G use it as a standalone wide area network (WAN) for an entire branch location. The other half uses 4G/5G connectivity as a failover link (standby or backup) or when connecting wired links in those locations.

It’s also worth noting that more businesses use WiFi for other needs, like:

• Connecting digital signages/billboards
• IoT devices (WiFi Cameras, Sensors, etc.)
• Vehicles

All use cases mentioned above increased WiFi usage by more than 10% YOY. On the other hand, businesses claim that concerns about cost—a major component of IT infrastructure, decreased by 5% compared to last year.

That means businesses are more confident about investing in reliable WiFi networks and systems, especially with more respondents focusing on security and reliability. 

WiFi Connectivity Statistics Australia

Using WIFI in Public 

Australia’s public WiFi landscape is a vast network of digital connectivity committed to connecting vast terrains and areas to high-speed internet. The country has recorded 17,328 WiFi hotspots, with Sydney holding the digital crown with 3,173 WiFi networks.

Perth, on the other hand, offers the most accessibility to its residents. Only 175 people are connected per hotspot, ensuring low bandwidth traffic and unbridled connectivity in the metro.

The advent of public WiFi and 5G connectivity raises concerns about security risks. With so many Aussies depending on public WiFi to connect on the go, it’s crucial to understand the precautions and how to protect personal information.

A Public WiFi study found that about 40% of respondents experienced hacking and had their data compromised while connected to a Public WiFi.

Using WIFI in an Office Environment

In a business setting, WiFi usage has been more prevalent in terms of collaboration, cloud storage, and cloud computing. In a study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than half (55%) of all businesses reported paying for cloud computing services, an increase of 8% from 42% the previous year.

The rise of reliance on WiFi networks also increased the risk of cyber attacks. The latest data shows that 22% of businesses reported experiencing cyber attacks and security incidents in 2022, a 14% rise from June 2020’s 8%.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

The prevalence of cyber attacks in WiFi networks doesn’t go unnoticed, especially for large-scale businesses. 70% of business respondents reported using WiFi preventive measures to address these concerns and keep their businesses afloat and digitally secure.

Besides, when asked about which factors significantly hamper and affect business performances, 9% answered internet access issues, further cementing the need for a reliable and stable WiFi connection in the workplace.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

In the same survey, 31% of respondent businesses claimed a 5G mobile wireless connection as of June 2022. This is a massive 210% increase from June 2020 at only 10%. 

It’s safe to say that Australia’s commercial landscape is experiencing massive growth in 5G connectivity, driving its industries into digitalisation and streamlining collaboration and cloud storage.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

More than half (52%) of businesses with 5G wireless connectivity claim that their internet connection is sufficient to keep up with the workload. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, larger businesses with more employees invest more in faster internet.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Aside from connectivity and speed, we also looked at other aspects of businesses’ investments in WiFi and 5G. The latest figures from the ABS reported that almost 85% of businesses use ICT infrastructure, compared to only 69% in the previous two years. 

The most prominent ICT infrastructure businesses use are cyber security tools, cloud services, and digital platforms for presence, marketing, and business operations (logistics, sales, etc).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

WiFi Connection Growth Statistics

Most people know WiFi is a wireless internet connection for smartphones, computers, TVs, and tablets. Now, WiFi connectivity development focuses on smart devices. Most organisations now extend their Wireless WAN to IoT devices and smart devices.

The State of Wireless WAN reports that the number of devices connected to IoT networks with cellular connection grew by as much as 10% YoY as more businesses and organisations invested in technologies and infrastructure capable of leveraging high-bandwidth and low-latency connectivity.

WiFi Security Statistics 

WiFi security has become a priority for Australian businesses that invest in wireless WAN infrastructure and wireless 4G/5G connectivity for their employees and devices.

The same study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals businesses’ measures and protocols to ensure safety and security throughout their WiFi networks.

• Regularly updating virus protection software: 62%
• Regularly backing up critical operations data: 37%
• Restricting administrative privileges to operating systems and apps: 24%
• Using authentication software/hardware for identity and access management: 20%
• Regularly patching operating systems, software, and applications: 20%
• Using specific tools for security monitoring: 15%
• Training employees on cyber security awareness: 13%
• Putting formal policies in place to mitigate cyber security risks: 8%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

How Internet Companies Prioritise High-Speed Modems For Faster WiFi

Transitioning to full fibre from copper DSL wires comes with a massive cost, but it also offers significant earnings and a return on investment.

In October 2022, the Australian Government invested about $2.4 billion to upgrade its infrastructure and extend full-fibre access to more than 1.5 million premises by late 2025.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) also reported that switching to high-speed broadband could save users more than 100 hours of downtime and up to $2,580 on their annual bills after this upgrade.

Moreover, transitioning to high-speed networks allowed NBN to generate a massive economic uplift of up to $122 billion by the end of 2022. Such a milestone allowed the broadband network to create about 169,000 additional jobs for its workforce, a 1.3% increase in Australia’s labour force.

The end of December 2023 also shines a positive light for NBN subscribers, as 75% of the premises in their fixed-line network have the opportunity to tap into 4G/5G networks directly to their home wired and WiFi networks. That means users can simply upgrade to faster speeds on-demand without paying for another installation cost if they have an existing subscription to NBN.

Conclusion

Australia’s consistent investment and commitment to faster speeds, better accessibility, security, and reliability of wireless WAN and public WiFi networks led to positive results in all relevant aspects.

Businesses also lead the way in digital connectivity and WiFi usage as wireless networks find new applications in logistics, operations, planning, expansion, and security, among many other relevant processes and infrastructures.

In other words, WiFi proliferates across Australian citizens and businesses. Add that to the emerging 5G rollout across the country, and we can only infer that connectivity and WiFi network experience will significantly improve in the coming years.

Looking for more statistics? Make sure to check out our other statistic articles below!

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