Optus teamed up with Chinese tech giant Huawei for a live trial of 4.5G technology this week, with the Australian telecommunications service provider saying it will continue testing the network of the future and prepare for 5G by 2020.

The successful trial, which concluded on Wednesday at Gigasite in Newcastle, resulted in download speeds of 1.41Gbps, with theoretical maximum speeds reaching 1.43 Gigabits per second (Gbps).

“The combination of Carrier Aggregation, Higher Level Modulation, and 4X4 MIMO achieved a peak download speed of 1.23Gbps over the air in live network conditions,” Optus announced in a media release.

The 4.5G trial in Newcastle, which commenced with the announcement of the world first Gigasite in 2013, marks an important milestone in creating a better connected Australia, said James Zhao, CEO of Huawei Australia.

According to Huawei, whose local arm has been investing in research and development in Australia, 4.5G will be a “smooth transition from 4G” and will enable carriers to enhance speed and bring in better experiences with their existing infrastructure.

“By 2020, 5G will be here and we are committed to identify ways to prepare our network to support this new technology and further improve customer experience,” added Dennis Wong, Optus Networks acting Managing Director.

Related: How 5G Network Will Change Your World

Meanwhile, Verizon Communications will commence its first commercial tests of ultra high-speed 5G wireless service in the US by 2017, confirmed CEO Lowell McAdam. He also confirmed that the pilot trials will start at the company's Basking Ridge, New Jersey headquarters.

In 2016, the 5G roll out route will take its course in San Francisco, New York and Boston, confirmed McAdam. 5G technology will enable data output speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

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