Telstra to launch hi-speed 5G internet hotspots on the Gold Coast today

SOME of the world’s fastest internet speeds will be available to Gold Coasters from today in an Australia first which offers speeds faster than seen in the city before.

GOLD Coast residents will today become the first people in Australia to taste super-fast 5G internet speeds ahead of a rollout across the country.

Telstra will this morning switch on several 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hot spots in central Southport which will allow all mobile phone users to connect to hi-speed connection.

The hotspots will be active for the Commonwealth Games.

The hotpots, located in Scaroborugh and Nerang Street, are the first of the rollout, which will continue through 2019.

Telstra group managing director of networks Mike Wright said the 5G was capable of delivering download speeds of more than 3 Gbps, “which is capable of supporting around 1000 HD movies being streamed simultaneously.”

Telstra‘s Mike Wright says the Gold Coast will enjoy 5G from today. Picture: Marc McCormack

“We have said we intend to lead on 5G and with these 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hot spots Australian consumers will be among the first people in the world to try the technology,” he said.

“Taking 5G technology out of a lab and into the hands of consumers is another key milestone on Telstra’s road map to offering 5G services in 2019.”

Actual broadband speeds experienced on the 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hot spots are likely to be lower than the maximum depending the type of device being used, distance from the hotspot and the number of people connected to the hotspot at the one time.

Telstra performed a 5G drone tests at Labrador last month. Picture Glenn Hampson

Telstra last month announced it would trial the fast internet on the Gold Coast as part of a $60 million spend to update infrastructure.

Drone technology and how 5G could be used to improve rescues is one major area of investigation.