Wired Telecommunications Network Operation: ABS business counts
ANZSIC class 5801, in the Information Media and Telecommunications division.
- Actively trading businesses in Wired Telecommunications Network Operation (ANZSIC class 5801) across Australia, June 2025
- 1,463 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025.
- Actively trading non-employing businesses in Wired Telecommunications Network Operation (ANZSIC class 5801) across Australia, June 2025
- 802 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025.
- ABS business entries in Wired Telecommunications Network Operation (ANZSIC class 5801) across Australia: counted at June 2025 but not June 2024
- 239 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, 2024-25.
- ABS business exits in Wired Telecommunications Network Operation (ANZSIC class 5801) across Australia: counted at June 2024 but not June 2025
- 194 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, 2024-25.
About these figures
- These ABS figures count actively trading businesses, not workers, sites or venues, each in its main state or territory.
- Entries and exits compare two 30 June counts. They are not counts of openings and closures.
- The ABS adjusts its counts slightly to protect confidentiality, so a small number or a zero is approximate, not proof that no such business exists.
Summary of the ABS class definition
In this class, the ABS counts businesses mainly engaged in operating, maintaining or providing access to facilities for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound and video using wired telecommunications networks. Businesses operate fixed (wired) telecommunications infrastructure, but may also utilise other types of technologies in order to deliver services.
Examples the ABS lists:
- International telephone network operation (wired)
- Local telephone network operation (wired)
- Long distance telephone network operation (wired)
- Telecommunications network operation (wired)
- Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Provision (Wired telecommunication-based)
The ABS counts businesses mainly engaged in this related work in other classes:
- operating and maintaining switching and transmission facilities that provide omni-directional or point-to point communications via wireless telecommunication networks are included in Class 5802 Other Telecommunications Network Operation
- reselling telecommunications without operating a network are included in Class 5809 Other Telecommunications Services
- producing and broadcasting television programs for pay or subscription television networks or stations are included in Class 5622 Cable and Other Subscription Broadcasting
- publishing telephone directories are included in Class 5414 Directory and Mailing List Publishing
- maintaining and installing telecommunications infrastructure are included in Class 3109 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
The ABS page for class 5801 gives the full definition and what the class leaves out.
By employment size
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| All businesses | 1,463 businesses |
| Non-employing | 802 businesses |
| 1 to 4 employees | 556 businesses |
| 5 to 19 employees | 73 businesses |
| 20 to 199 employees | 27 businesses |
| 200 or more employees | 5 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
By turnover
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| Zero to less than $50k | 286 businesses |
| $50k to less than $200k | 521 businesses |
| $200k to less than $2m | 546 businesses |
| $2m to less than $5m | 55 businesses |
| $5m to less than $10m | 16 businesses |
| $10m or more | 39 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 3, June 2025. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
Entries and exits, 2024-25
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| At the start of the year | 1,418 businesses |
| ABS business entries | 239 businesses |
| ABS business exits | 194 businesses |
| At the end of the year | 1,463 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, 2024-25. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
By main state or territory
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 480 businesses |
| Victoria | 506 businesses |
| Queensland | 224 businesses |
| Western Australia | 129 businesses |
| South Australia | 85 businesses |
| Tasmania | 16 businesses |
| Australian Capital Territory | 17 businesses |
| Northern Territory | 5 businesses |
| Other Territories or Currently Unknown | 3 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Sources
Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2: Businesses by main state by industry class by employment size ranges (8165DC02.xlsx). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, June 2021 to June 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 16 December 2025, checked 15 October 2026.
Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 3: Businesses by main state by industry class by turnover size ranges (8165DC03.xlsx). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, June 2021 to June 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 16 December 2025, checked 16 October 2026.
Correspondence, GCCSA 2021 to GCCSA 2026 (CG_GCCSA_2021_GCCSA_2026.csv). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 4, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 22 July 2026, checked 15 October 2026.
Greater Capital City Statistical Areas digital boundary file, 2026 (GCCSA_2026_AUST_SHP_GDA2020.zip). Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 4, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 22 July 2026, checked 15 October 2026.
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 2.0): the detailed classification. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 2.0), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 26 June 2013, checked 16 October 2026.
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