PwC goes wireless with Telstra

The agreement -- believed to be worth approximately AU$1 million -- will cover about 2,000 PwC employees around the country.

ZDNet Australia understands the telco plans to issue a statement on the deal shortly.

It is believed to be one of the largest deals signed for the mobile broadband business service, which was launched last November.

The service delivers what the carrier describes as "broadband-equivalent speeds" -- average data speeds of 300-600 kbps, bursting to a maximum of 2.4 Mbps -- across all capital cities and selected regional areas.

The offering is based on Telstra's 1xEVDO (Evolution Data Optimised) mobile network, an enhancement of the carrier's CDMA 1x network. Once a user moves outside the EVDO coverage area, he or she switches to the CDMA 1x network, which covers 98 percent of the population and delivers data speeds of up to 153 kbps.

The move comes shortly after BigPond unveiled its wireless broadband entry, covering greater Sydney and selected areas in state capitals and regional centres.

The service delivers download speeds of up to 256 kbps or 512 kbps for both desktop or laptop versions, depending on the chosen plan. The laptop version, which uses a wireless card, provides access at speeds of 80-100 kbps and bursts of up to 144 kbps when it is outside wireless coverage areas, the carrier said.