So far, Telstra and Optus have opened up their 4G network to consumers, with Vodafone due to launch its 4G offering in early 2013. Other telcos and ISPs have also announced they will resell 4G access on Optus' network, including Virgin Mobile, Amaysim and Boost Mobile.

ISP Exetel and iiNet will also offer 4G services to customers.

However, rolling out a 4G network is far from simple. According to Mark Gregory, senior lecturer at RMIT University, telcos typically subcontract 4G installation procedures to a company which interacts with their equipment supplier.

Telcos remain an integral part of the design of the 4G upgrades to mobile base stations and cell design, such as where cells will be located, the number of cells and whether new base stations will needed to be built.

"Wherever possible they will try and reuse base stations," Gregory says.