Research released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority today shows that 3.3 million adult Australians, or 19 per cent of the population, are mobile-only users.
The research shows that in 2011, the number of people who had ditched their landline was 2.8 million.
That figure rose by 20 per cent to reach 3.3 million by December 2012.
Not surprisingly, it is younger people leading the charge.
The research shows the majority of mobile-only subscribers are under 35 (61 per cent), live in a metro area (63 per cent) and earn less than $50k (66 per cent).
Those aged 25 to 35 year are two times more likely to be mobile only, compared to the general population.
At the other end of the age scale, Australians 65 and older are three-quarters less likely to be mobile only.
While people are increasingly relying on their mobile phone for calling people, 65 per cent of mobile-only users still want to be plugged in when it comes to using the internet.
Probably reflecting the comparatively high cost of mobile phone internet, the study shows less than 3 per cent of Australian adults, or about 480,000 people, were “full mobile substitution”, using their mobile for all their calls, texts and internet needs.
Although that trend is quickly changing with the number of full mobile users increasing by 70 per cent last year.
The way people connect to the internet, either just through their mobile phone or through a combination of their phone and other connection, also impacts on what they do on the internet.
The ACMA research shows full-mobile users are two-thirds more likely to use online banking and social media.
Source: news.com.au