A new 2012 International Communications and Market Report has revealed that Australians have been ranked as the highest in the world when it comes to emptying wallets for phone and internet usage spending.

Commissioned by Ofcom, the United Kingdom's media and communications regulator, the report discovered that an Australian individual shells out roughly $1,208 to supplement his or her telecommunications services requirements, which include access to mobile and fixed-line phone and internet. It was not clear if the $1,208 amount was spent on a per year basis or per month.

The survey likewise found out that despite holding one of the world's lowest rates fibre-based connections, Australia still holds one of the best rates of access to superfast broadband.

Moreover, revenues in pay television in Australia, where free-to-air television remains more popular than pay TV, still rakes in as one of the world's highest, at roughly 1,147 average per user.

Australia likewise has the highest mobile broadband penetration rate among the countries surveyed, with 25.2 connections per 100 citizens.

The 2012 International Communications and Market Report studied the media habits and consumption of UK along with other 16 countries, including Japan, Australia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Brazil, Russia, the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, India and China.

The same survey likewise found that Australians are second-ranked when it comes to online shopping, with the UK in the lead.

For 2011, Australians spent $1,288 on online shopping, compared to U.K. consumers who shelled out $1,656 for the period.