Australia's first 4G network is up and running

The 4G provider has also announced retail partnerships with Harvey Norman and Dick Smith, and a service centre manned by 35 staff.

The network was built using WiMAX and LTE hardware from Chinese vendor, Huawei, and delivered within the promised dateline of early this year. The network is running on 150 base stations using the mobile WiMAX 802.16e standard, according to Huawei.

"Many did not believe us when we said we would launch in March," vividwireless CEO, Martin Mercer, said in a statement. "In six months our team has done what other companies struggle to do in twice the time."

The 4G network is set to expand across the country in the near future. According to an Unwired spokesperson, Sydney and Melbourne can expect access to 4G vividwireless services in August. Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide will be next on the agenda.

Those interested in signing up for the service have the option to choose between pre-paid, monthly subscriptions and fixed term contracts, the company said.

"We will be offering prices that are competitive with current fixed ADSL offerings, with the added advantage of mobility," Mercer said. "This is a massive step forward that we expect will dramatically increase the uptake of mobile computing."

Despite being backed by Google and Intel, WiMax is not considered a significant competitor to other broadband formats in the local market. Technology delays, adoption of HDSPA technology and a weak economy may continue to hurt WiMax's chances in the mainstream, having already suffered slow growth rates in the first quarter of 2009, as some might have had argued.

(Advertorial) How to maximise CFD's trade: entry and exit with Bollinger Bands