A report from communications watchdog, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), noted the take-up of wireless broadband grew by 162 per cent on last year and users downloaded close to 100,000 terabits, up a whopping 80 per cent on 2008 figures.

More than one million new broadband users signed on last year, bringing the total to 6.72 million. Wireless subscribers accounted for a quarter of all Internet users, up 11 per cent on the previous year.

The surge in broadband usage helped push a four per cent increase in the number of people shopping and banking online, and a 27 per cent spike in advertising revenues to $1.7 billion at the end of 2008.

ACMA chairman, Chris Chapman, said the surge in uptake of mobile broadband increases the need to change fixed-line regulation.

"Services such as 3G, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and wireless broadband internet are being increasingly used, with factors such as lifestyle, age and family type shaping these choices," Chapman said.