Telstra sets its sights to become Australia’s first with 5G network plans

Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications operator, revealed its major plans on implementing upgrades on its mobile connectivity service during the Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona.

The telco company released its plans of adopting the fastest 5G spectrum, along with releasing its high-speed modem within the year. Telstra targets to deploy its 5G network by 2020.

Realising 5G plans

According to Mike Wright, Managing Director of Telstra networks group, the company has partnered with Swedish mobile phone maker Ericsson to carry out trials which include prototypes of the 5G radio hardware as handsets may not be available yet by that time. Sweden is one of the two European cities working to be the first adopters of 5G.

To accomplish this, Telstra will deploy its engineers to Sweden to make sure that its handsets comply with the high speed network standard. Wright said that field testing may start in the latter part of 2016 and will ensure that the 5G network technology will reach major commercial areas as well as regional towns in the country.

Mobile operators Optus and Vodafone also announced a mobile connectivity shift to a better and faster 5G mobile technology even before Telstra’s MWC announcement. Optus also recently announced its live trials on the 4.5G network with Huawei in Newcastle. The high speed connection boasts of 1.23 and 1.41 gigabits per second download speeds in preparation of the 5G technology.

Rival telecom operator Vodafone has also announced its 5G plans.

Mobile Blackspot Programs

While plans on shifting to the faster and better 5G are underway, Australia’s telcos are also reinforcing current network enhancement plans as a response to the government’s Mobile Blackspot Programme . Business Insider reveals that both Telstra and Vodafone are at par with their commitments to deliver better mobile connectivity in remote areas in Australia. Telstra has yet to complete its 66 base stations by June, while Vodafone expects a dozen sites to be completed in July this year.

Furthermore, mobile communications advancement from Telstra includes a speed boost in its current 4G network, introduction of a mobile router, Voice over Wi-Fi service and Video over LTE.

Australia’s three major cities — Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne — will enjoy a 1Gbps upgrade with its current 4G network. The upgrade comes with a Netgear modem, a device that can connect 20 devices to the Internet with the capability of delivering enhanced mobile video experience.

Vodafone has worked on improving its network speed, coverage and reliability and has increased its revenue and regained 135,000 customers since its disastrous mergers with Hutchinson’s local networks. The company gained a 4.5 percent increase in revenue gaining $3.65 billion last year. Among the successful partnerships of Vodafone include that of mobile tech innovator 5BARz International (OTCQB: BARZ) in India, where continued roll out of its network extender are still in place. The partnership was also part of a plan to improve customer mobile experience in India.

When it comes to better service and improved mobile connectivity, strong partnerships with the industry’s strongest proved to be more successful. Australia’s telecom operators are on their way to deliver the future’s fastest mobile network connection with the 5G technology.