Telstra mobile gadget to deliver downloads 10 times faster than the National Broadband Network
TELSTRA’S mobile network is set to outpace the NBN, with a new device promising to download a one-hour TV show in 16 seconds, or an HD movie in minutes.
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AUSTRALIA’S mobile phone network will deliver internet access at up to 10 times the speed of the top National Broadband Network connections within weeks with the use of a new gadget unveiled today.
The pocket-sized Netgear device will use Telstra’s existing 4G phone network to deliver downloads of up to one gigabit per second, or enough speed to get a one-hour TV episode in 16 seconds, or a high-definition movie in three minutes.
By comparison, top NBN connections only deliver up to 100 megabits per second.
However, there are caveats: the speeds have only been delivered in “laboratory-like” conditions, are not yet available throughout Australia, and mobile downloads may cost significantly more than those from a fixed line connection.
Telstra device management director Andy Volard called the Netgear Nighthawk M1 “the fastest mobile device in the world,” and said it was a step towards what most users could expect from future phone networks.
“It’s going to help people embrace a new breed of mobile applications and experiences, including immersive virtual reality, connected cloud computing, and rich entertainment,” Mr Volard said.
“And it brings us one step closer to introducing 5G in Australia.”
The square device is a mobile router that achieves faster download and upload speeds by using Category 16 LTE, three-carrier aggregation, higher order modulation, and 4x4 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology.
Essentially, the device uses multiple 4G bands but only one SIM card.
It can also connect up to 20 devices to the internet at once.
Telstra will launch the device for consumers at the end of February, with an outright price of $360. It has yet to reveal monthly plans for the device, however, and current 4GX plans peak at just 15GB for $55 per month.
Also, the Netgear device’s top speed of one gigabit per second down and 150 megabits per second up have only been achieved under “laboratory-like” conditions in Sydney. Telstra’s 4GX network is currently available in parts of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.
Originally published as Telstra mobile gadget to deliver downloads 10 times faster than the National Broadband Network
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