5G is covering more areas in Australia. How to find out if your home is covered

It’s been touted as the next generation of the internet, with faster speeds and better connectivity but it’s only available to some Aussies.

It’s the new wave of the internet that promises to quench our thirst for more and more data but for Australians who want to upgrade, location is key.

5G, as the name suggests is the latest generation of the global internet network, is being rolled out across Australia.

At this stage it is only select, and largely metropolitan populations who can access the 5G network.

If you do live in one of these areas, once you’ve ticked that box you will also need a device that supports it and have 5G data with a telco providers.

Here’s what else you need to know about 5G.

WHERE IS 5G AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA?

Whether you can access 5G internet is currently dependent on which provider you are with and whether you have a device or modem that’s compatible with 5G. Currently Australia has three 5G carriers – Optus, Telstra and Vodafone – with each provider offering different levels of coverage.

To see which providers are currently accessible in your area, take a look at these interactive maps from Optus, Telstra and Vodafone here.

Telstra has the largest 5G coverage, accessible to 50 per cent of the Australian population and with plans for that number to hit 75 per cent by the end of June 2021. Vodafone have also shared plans for their 5G network to cover 85 per cent of the population in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra by the end of 2021. Optus’ network currently covers more than 1000 5G sites across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, and is accessible to more than 700,000 households.

Available on select phone and home internet plans, 5G internet is set to change how we use the internet in our daily lives. Picture: iStock.

HOW FAST IS 5G?

Although 5G network speeds are said to be able to offer a download rate of up to 20GBs per second, Australia’s network is not yet to be able to support those speeds. According to the most current information, here are the advertised speeds from Optus and Telstra.

Optus – Calculated over a three-month period between 7pm and 11pm, Optus puts their current average download speed at 239Mbps. However, the telco’s 5G services are backed by their 50Mbps Satisfaction Guarantee, which means customers can cancel their contract without cancellation fees if their download rate dips below 50Mbps.

Telstra – Telstra states customers can expect typical download speeds between 50Mbps and 300Mbps, however their 5G rollout is currently invite-only to eligible customers.

WHAT PHONES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH 5G

Generally it’s only the newer models that offer 5G compatibility. Currently, these models include:

– iPhone 12 – including the 12 Mini and Pro Max models

– Samsung GalaxyS21 – including the GalaxyS21+ and GalaxyS21 Ultra models

– Samsung GalaxyS20 – including the GalaxyS20+, GalaxyS20 FE and GalaxyS20 Ultra models

– Samsung A71 5G, Samsung A90 5G and Galaxy S10 5G

– Samsung Galaxy Note20, Note20 Ultra and Note10+

– Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 and Galaxy Z Flip

– OPPO Find X2 Neo 5G, Find X2 Lite 5G, and Find X2 Pro 5G models

– Google Pixel 4a with 5G and Google Pixel 5

– Moto G 5G Plus

Just keep in mind that while you can have a phone that is compatible with 5G, you also need to have a plan that includes 5G connectivity in order to access the network.

Picture: iStock.

WHAT OTHER DEVICES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH 5G

Apart from compatible phones, Telstra and Optus also offer modems so their customers can connect their additional devices to 5G internet.

Telstra’s 5G Wi-Fi Pro is good for people who want 5G connectivity on the go and works like a portable hot spot. The gadget lets you connect up to 30 devices and retails for $599 with the option of a 12 or 24 month payment plan.

In order to use the device you will need to also purchase a Telstra data plan. At the moment, 5G network access is only available on their Medium (60GB) and Large (200GB) plans which are $50 or $75 month-to-month respectively.

On the other hand, Optus’s 5G home internet plans offer unlimited data but customers have to pay more for a faster internet speed. Optus members can choose between a $75 a month ‘5G Internet Everyday’ plan (which has a capped speed of 100Mbps and an average speed of 85Mbps from 5pm to 11pm) or the ‘5G Internet Entertainer’ plan, which boasts unlimited download speeds with an average of 238Mbps from 5pm to 11pm. Although the plans come with no minimum contract length requirement, users willing to commit to a 24-month plan automatically get the $200 start-up fee waived and their first month free.

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This article was created in sponsorship with iSelect