Technological innovations continue to shape how we live our lives. When it comes to modern innovations that will shape the future, 5G technology is something to be excited about. Considering how important 5G is, it’s rather surprising how little people actually know about it. To help you out, we thought it would be useful to put together a brief article on this topic. If this is something that you’re interested in knowing more about, read on as we discuss everything you need to know about 5G internet in Australia.
What is 5G?
5G is the 5th generation mobile network. 5G is designed in a way that allows everyone and everything to be connected virtually. 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, extremely low latency, a massive network capacity, and overall increased availability. Essentially, 5G is what will enable the world to have a better and more efficient internet.
Now that you know what 5G is, let’s take a closer look at the state of 5G in the country. So far, Telstra’s 5G network covers around 75% of the Australian population. The goal is to hit 95% by the year 2025. Coverage will span Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart. Optus, on the other hand, now covers around 400,000 households in Australia. However, coverage is limited to a number of locations. Lastly, Vodafone aims to cover around 85% of the country’s population within Australia’s six most populous cities by the end of 2021.
How does 5G compare to 4G technology?
- 5G is up to 20 times faster than 4G
- 5G can handle more devices that 4G. 5G can potentially connect up to a million devices per square kilometer
- 5G has lower latency which should result in better video streaming
- 5G operates on a larger range of frequencies which allows for the increased bandwidth
- 5G base stations transmit a shorter distance than 4G so the 5G network will need more base stations to achieve the same coverage.
How fast is 5G in Australia?
One of the most common questions that people have about 5G is how fast will it be in Australia. On paper, 5G will allow for speeds that peak at around 20Gbps. With that being said, it’s important to note that this won’t really be the case in reality. For the most part, you can expect 5G speeds to be anywhere between 100Mbps and 1Gbps. On average, you should be able to hit speeds of around 500Mbps easily.
Will 5G replace the National Broadband Network (NBN)?
Next, let’s talk about how 5G will affect the National Broadband Network (NBN). To put it simply, 5G will only serve as an alternative to the NBN and is not meant to replace it in any way. Optus and Vodafone already have 5G home internet plans available. With that being said, 5G isn’t going to be replacing NBN. Wireless networks like 5G have a smaller capacity and won’t be able to keep up with the coverage of wired networks like the NBN.
Is 5G safe?
Lastly, there are many conspiracy theories surrounding the safety of 5G. We’re not experts in this area but our expert friends at The Conversation which is an evidence based peer reviewed publication believer there is nothing to worry about as “The radio frequencies powering 5G will be well below the exposure limits known to cause harm”. Read the full article here “There’s no evidence 5G is going to harm our health, so let’s stop worrying about it”.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped shed some light on 5G in Australia. While it may be a lot to take in, this should give you a good place to start with. Now, it’s normal to not be able to comprehend everything all at once so feel free to look back on this article if you have any more questions about 5G technology in Australia.
OZ Broadband Reviews was founded back in 2004 to help people choose a broadband company. We are composed of a small hard-working team based in Newcastle, NSW that is dedicated to helping you find the best deals available. If you’re looking for a new broadband plan we can help you find the right internet company for you.