Telstra switches on new 5G network in Adelaide, compatible devices coming next year

TELSTRA has switched on its new 5G network in Adelaide for the first time – but the first devices to use it aren’t due until next year.

TELSTRA has switched on its new 5G network in Adelaide for the first time.

But those hoping for quicker streaming will have to wait, because there are no compatible devices for the new network yet.

Today Adelaide joined Canberra and Perth in being connected to the network, after South Australia’s first 5G mobile base station on top of Telstra’s Flinders St Telephone Exchange was turned on.

The three cities joined other locations such as Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast in being connected to 5G.

But Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said the first wave of 5G compatible devices in Australia were not due until sometime next year.

“While they aren’t around yet the big thing about the switch being turned on is we can test them in a commercial setting, rather than in the lab,” he said.

“The innovation surrounding them is moving very quickly and I would say we will start to see commercially available handsets from next year.”

Telstra will team up with multinational telecommunications company Ericsson to rollout the 5G network.

Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said the first wave of 5G compatible devices in Australia were not due until sometime next year. Picture: AAP / Mick Tsikas

On top of promising faster mobile broadband speeds, Mr Penn said the big change from 4G to 5G was that the new network was developed with enabling “real-time wireless applications” in mind.

“This is the first purposed designed network to connect with sensors, drones and autonomous vehicles,” he said.

“There will be better video streaming of course, but the really exciting thing about 5G is that it will enable things like augmented and virtual reality.

“South Australia already has very good legislation around autonomous vehicles and the testing of them.

“This will be the network that underpins that type of new technology in the future.”

Originally published as Telstra switches on new 5G network in Adelaide, compatible devices coming next year