Australia’s digital divide is narrowing according to the recent research released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics but the lingering effects from the divide has an impact that goes beyond just access to the internet but it also affects the economic and regional competence – skillswise according to the research.
In the 2014-2015 research, the Australian Bureau of Statistics noted that 85% of Australians aged 15 and older have access to the internet while 86% of households are connected to the internet – an 83% increase from the past two years.
Over 1.3 million households were without internet connectivity from 2014-15 and for the first time since 2005-2006, the primary reasons gathered in not having internet at home was that 63% found that there was no need for it. Not having the knowledge and confidence in going online accounted for 22% while 16% is attributed to cost in having the internet at home.
Household connectivity is also a matter of discrepancy as according to the state household connectivity report provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics,  94% of homes in Australian Capital Territory are connected to the internet while Tasmania (81.7%) and South Australia (82.4%) account for the states which have the lease internet connected households in Australia. Basing in the statistics on geography, Australians that live in major cities are more likely to avail of the internet compared to Australians who reside in the inner regions, outer regions and remote areas.
The households that are connected to the internet enjoy considerable privileges compared to households that have no internet connection.  More and more Australians avail themselves of online banking, e-commerce services and explore a lucrative career by working from home. Internet connected households account for 62% of the higher income households found on the study.
Individuals who are connected to the internet also have the options to further their education or upgrade their specific skills via their industries via remote learning and enrolling in certification courses online. 96% of internet users are found to having a bachelor’s degree or higher and when numerically trended in reverse, the likelihood of having internet at home is proportionally lessened.
The digital divide to put simply is about households with internet and those without any. This has a significant impact in the economics where internet connectivity relates to Australia’s digital economy that is projected to be worth $139 Billion by 2020. In getting more households connected to the internet, the valuation increases as the internet offers an opportunity for Australians living in regional and remote areas to pursue a higher educational attainment or enrich their current skill qualities through the various certification programs found online.
With the efforts of the nbn® to fully connect Australians to the internet by 2020 and with 1.7 million households already connected to the internet, the digital divide gap is being addressed.
The nbn® satellite, Sky Muster® that was launched October last year – will bring a much improved satellite internet connectivity to households in the regional and remote areas.
The NBN’s Sky Muster satellite brings better satellite internet connectivity to regional Australia. To get onboard Sky Muster, call Activ8me today 13 22 88 or visit the Sky Muster Satellite Plans from Activ8me.