Number of mobiles greater than Australian population

The number of mobile phones in use in Australia has surged to a record high and now exceeds the nation's population.

For the first time, there is now more than one mobile for every Australian, with 21.26 million mobile phones now in operation – an increase of 7.6 per cent from the year before.

There are more than 4.5 million third generation mobile phones in Australia, a 192 per cent increase between 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007.

The number of fixed-line services, meanwhile, dropped from 11.26 million to 10.92 million.

The number of payphones in operation in Australia – both Telstra operated and privately operated – dropped by 8,368, to 49,862.

The figures are contained in the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) 2006-07 communications report tabled in parliament today by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

The report also shows the number of internet subscribers has grown to 6.43 million, made up of 2.09 million with narrowband and 4.33 million with broadband connections.  

- AAP