The total volume of data downloaded via the internet during the December 2012 quarter saw a 33 per cent increase in comparison to the June 2012 quarter, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Figures from the December 2012 quarter Internet Activity survey show the total volume of data downloaded in Australia topped half a million terabytes (TB) for the first time in a quarter, with more than 550,000 TB being downloaded.

ABS Director of the Innovation and Technology Statistics Branch, Diane Braskic, said today’s statistics showed continued growth of internet downloads in Australia.

"The growth in data downloads is consistent with factors such as increased subscriber numbers, the continuing move away from Dial-up, and the emergence of technologies that enable faster internet".

“Throughout 2012 the number of internet subscribers increased 5.0 per cent to a total of almost 12.2 million,” she said.

The survey also revealed an increase in mobile handset internet usage.

"Data downloaded by mobile handset subscribers increased by 38 per cent to 13,700 TB, however this still represents a relatively small proportion of total data downloads," explained Ms Braskic.

Data downloaded by fixed-line broadband accounted for 95 per cent of total data download volume. 

The full data set can be found here