In the 2008-09 period the TIO responded to 230,065 complaints, but 90 per cent were referred back to the service providers. The highest increase was in mobile phone customers with a 79 per cent rise, the TIO said in a statement. This was followed by Internet (57 per cent) and landline (40 per cent) users. Billing and payments, however, remained the biggest concern.

"The increases reflect the greater take-up of broadband internet services and a greater variety of services offered through mobile phones used by Australian consumers," O'Donnell said.

The TIO is not the only organisation to criticise the telecommunications industry. In March, the to better deal with consumers and eradicate misleading advertising, unfair contracts and deceptive mobile phone competitions, or face the wrath of the Trade Practices Act.Adoption and use of 3G networks and wireless broadband exploded last year as consumers flocked to grab the latest Internet-ready mobile, according to new research.

A report from the communications watchdog noted take-up of wireless broadband grew by 162 percent on last year, while users downloaded close to 100,000 terabits, up a whopping 80 percent on 2008 figures.

Last year saw more than one million new broadband subscribers, bringing the total to 6.72 million, with wireless subscribers accounting for a quarter of all Internet users, up 11 percent on the previous year.