When you are talking wireless broadband providers in Australia, you are really talking about wireless network providers, and there are only the three: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchinson.

Other providers piggy-bank onto the big three's networks, and while Optus and to a less extent Vodafone are constantly upgrading their coverage, Telstra still has by far the widest.

Optus isn't taking that lying down, of course, recently announcing the roll-out of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services and an upgrade of its existing 3G network to migrate over half of its available 2G spectrum at 900MHz to 3G.

It is also the first Australian carrier to be awarded a licence to trial LTE services in the 700 MHz spectrum band, which it says delivers greater reach and enhanced in-building coverage and will be vital in delivering services to regional Australia. A trial will take place in Victoria and will be the first time in Australia that the former analogue TV frequency will be used for 4G services and applications.

"Phase one of Optus' roll-out will provide extensive 4G coverage and is timed to coincide with a significantly expanded 4G device range, to deliver the best value and choice for customers," Optus CEO Paul O'Sullivan said in a statement.