BCARR found that telecommunications affordability has improved with Australian households now spending a lower share of their disposable income on telecommunications services-down from 4.1% in 2008 to 3% in 2021.
Household spending on telco services behaves like their spending on other necessities, such as food-the share of income spent on telco services declines as household income grows.
The study also found that, when controlling for income and other factors, there was a lower share of income spent on telecommunications in households where members: speak English poorly, reside alone, are aged 65 or older, are not employed, or are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders.
A copy of the paper is available on our website.
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