In the lead up to launching commercial 5G services in 2019, Telstra has demonstrated technology that will allow download speeds of up to 2Gbps over 4G networks.
For reference, 2Gbps is roughly the same as to 2000Mbps. This makes it approximately 20 times as a fast as a current top tier NBN 100 connection. A standard 4G connection tends to range between 20Mbps and 100Mbps.
In a demo at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow in Barcelona, Telstra demonstrated speeds as a high as 2,019Mbps.
Actual download speeds will however vary on your location, network congestion, and your device. These superfast speeds are achieved using carrier aggregation - simultaneously connecting to multiple network frequencies - and as such, require a device capable of reaching them. Devices that can attain these speeds will be available later this year.
Telstra's 2Gbps milestone follows the telco achieving 1Gbps speeds on its 4G network at the start of last year. Telstra says gigabit speeds are currently available in the CBDs of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, in addition to other high traffic areas in these cities. 2Gbps capabilities will be added to the network over the coming months.
Telstra is calling 2Gbps 4G a major milestone on its road to 5G. The next steps include deploying more than 1,000 small cells across Australia to increase network capacity in metro areas, integration trials, and further testing ahead of September when the 5G standard is set to be standardised.
The telco says it will deploy 5G over time, connecting major capital cities and regional areas over 2019.
Of course, Telstra isn't the only Australian carrier keen to get 5G networks up and running. At the start of the month, Optus announced that it intends to start deploying 5G networks by early 2019. This will initially be used to offer a fixed home wireless internet service in "key metro areas".
Alex Choros
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