Mobile telecommunications density in Australia - Data and Analysis (1996-2034)

IBISWorld estimates that there will be 35.2 million active mobile telecommunications services in 2026-27, inferring a density of 124.07%, or 124.07 active mobile services for every 100 people in Australia. This density represents a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the previous year. Saturation in the smartphone market has slowed the uptake of mobile phones and other mobile devices and easing net overseas migration has curbed the number of new services activated. Net overseas migration fell by around 29% in 2024-25, according to the ABS and the Centre for Population. In its 2025 Population Statement, released in January 2026, the Centre for Population expects it to ease further to 260,000 in 2025-26 and keep declining across its projection period to 2035-36. Ongoing 5G expansion has offset a steeper drop, as Telstra, Optus and TPG completed the shutdown of their 3G networks in late 2024 and repurposed the freed-up low-band spectrum for 5G, improving network performance and coverage in urban areas. The growing appeal of 5G fixed wireless broadband, especially in underserved or regional areas, has also supported some demand as new services are activated. These trends have driven the decline in the use of USB modems, data cards and dongles, thereby reducing mobile telecommunications density.Overall, mobile telecommunications density has been broadly flat over the past five years, edging down slightly on balance. Density climbed to a peak of 126.12% in 2023-24, driven by a surge in net migration and rapid uptake of 5G networks, before easing back as population growth slowed and the market approached saturation. Working the other way, however, has been consumers' growing appetite for constant connectivity, with more everyday functions being performed online. The adoption of video streaming on mobile devices has led to a spike in data usage over the past five years, even as data plans have risen in step with inflationary pressures. Many consumers have also disconnected their home phone lines and now rely exclusively on mobile phones, supporting density. Overall, IBISWorld estimates mobile telecommunications density edged down by an average annual 0.1 percentage points over the five years through 2026-27.