Telstra accomplished another milestone in its 5G roadmap, achieving Australia’s first live 5G connection using a commercial 5G chipset on Telstra’s mobile network.
This Australian first was achieved using a form factor device working with two of Telstra’s network partners Ericsson and Qualcomm on the Gold Coast in Australia. It brings together all of the end-to-end 5G network components for this real world 5G data call in the field.
Channa Seneviratne, Telstra’s Network Engineering Executive said, “Telstra’s strategic relationship with these global industry partners allows Telstra to test, understand and demonstrate real world 5G capability so we can advance the deployment of 5G and immediately bring it to our customers as soon as devices are commercially available.
“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone as it signals that commercial 5G devices are getting closer and closer. Field testing in our real-world mobile network with this chipset over our commercial spectrum moves the verification well and truly from the lab into the street. The team will continue testing over the coming months to improve data rates and overall performance in readiness for device availability. “
Testing the latest commercial chipset from Qualcomm with Ericsson in the field is another indication of Telstra’s ongoing industry leading development in mobile technology leadership, and the latest in a series of 5G firsts for Telstra.
This is the latest in a series of 5G firsts for Telstra. In February Telstra launched its 5G Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast supported by Ericsson. That Centre has since been home to several world and Australian firsts including the world’s first precinct of 5G-enabled WiFi hotspots, Australia’s first 5G Connected Car, the world’s first end-to-end 5G non-standalone data call on a commercial mobile network, and the launch of over 50 5G-enabled sites around the country.
This achievement also follows Telstra’s recent announcement that Ericsson would be its key 5G partner under an agreement that will see the two companies partner to deliver the next generation of mobile technology for Australia.
Telstra’s rollout of 5G is underpinned by the around $5 billion in mobile network investment over the three years to 30 June 2019, consistent with previous guidance, to enhance the capacity, capability and reach of Telstra’s network.
This is Australia’s first live 5G 3GPP R15 data call using a commercial chipset in a form factor device on Telstra’s mobile network.
The connection used Telstra’s 3.5Ghz commercial spectrum, Ericsson’s latest 5G network, and Qualcomm Technologies commercial 5G chipset in a commercial form factor device.