Aussies stuck in digital slow lane

WE’RE tech savvy ... but slow.

Australians lag behind New Zealand and Iceland when it comes to being “connected”.

While we’re among the world’s most prolific technology users, buying everything from smartphones to smart fridges, slow and expensive broadband is holding us back.

The lack of world-class internet connections pushed Australia’s “digital readiness” below the likes of New Zealand and Iceland, according to a report from Ernst & Young.

This is despite Australians embracing new trends including music and TV streaming, and buying more devices than ever.

The ‘Digital Australia: Station of the Nation’ report, which surveyed more than 1551 people and 131 “digital opinion leaders”, placed Australia in 18th spot for digital readiness worldwide – falling two places from last year.

While our use of mobile internet boosted Australia’s ranking, it was “brought down by the cost of fixed broadband” and slow download speeds.

“As the world’s 13th largest mixed-market economy, boasting an AAA rating from all three global rating agencies, Australia should be further up the global digital rankings,” the report said.

“However Australia remains caught in the shadow of other advanced nations.”

The cost of Australian broadband connections was rated at 57th out of 139 countries, while download speeds put the country in 50th spot, well behind other nations in the Asia-Pacific.

As an example, internet users in South Korea can download a high-definition movie in 23 minutes, on average, but it would take almost an hour for Australians.

While Australia’s size and relatively small population may play a part, the report found “the reality is that the world won’t wait and the barriers aren’t relevant in a competitive global market”.

Despite the below-average broadband report card, Australians are keen technology adopters, it found, with “one of the highest levels of smartphone usage in the world” at 88 per cent, half using a tablet or e-book reader, and 3 per cent owning drones.

On average, Australians spent $3426 a year on digital technology, the report said, including $978 on hardware.