Telcos form 5G Future Forum to advance the new tech

Telstra joins global telcos to create a ‘future forum’ to develop new specifications for 5G.

The Galaxy Fold 5G is displayed at the Samsung booth during CES 2020 in Las Vegas. Picture: Getty Images

Telstra has banded together with other telcos globally to create a new 5G forum, an exclusive club it says will further develop specifications for the new technology.

The 5G Future Forum, launched on Thursday, was formed to “collaborate to develop interoperable 5G specifications across key geographic regions."

The telcos involved are América Móvil, KT, Rogers, Telstra, Vodafone and Verizon, and they’ll focus on building out 5G across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe

“Telecommunications companies are in the driver’s seat when it comes to creating opportunities for their customers to take advantage of the world of possibilities enabled by 5G," Telstra's group executive for networks and IT Nikos Katinakis said in a statement.

"We are proud to stand alongside these global 5G leaders, combining our experience and capabilities, as well as 5G leadership, to develop initiatives to bring mobile-edge computing to life.”

The chairman and CEO of US telco Verizon, Hans Vestberg, said in a statement it’s critical that technology partners around the world unite to create the most seamless global experience customers.

“We are proud to join with our fellow 5G leaders to unlock the full potential of applications and solutions that will transform with 5G’s fast speeds, high reliability, improved security and single-digit latency," he said.

It comes after Telstra announced last week it is about to exceed 100,000 5G connected devices in Australia — surpassing the US — as the technology continues to gain traction.

Telstra’s group executive for consumer and small business, ­Michael Ackland, told The Australian at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas that Australian consumers had lapped up the faster speeds available through 5G, which launched in the middle of 2018.

“We’re very happy with the momentum we’re seeing in 5G so far,” Mr Ackland said.

“Since July, a quarter of our Android phones sold have been 5G phones.

“We have seen several new 5G phones and laptops launched at CES, many of which are in the mid-market.

“We will have over 800 5G sites live around the country, part of the 26 cities that we’ve launched in so far.”

Apple is expected to release its 5G-enabled iPhone this year, but Telstra is already offering 5G devices from Samsung, Oppo and LG.

Analysts suggest the US has yet to hit the 100,000 device milestone.