In an Australian first, Telstra has recorded smartphone speeds in excess of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) on a commercial network using the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.
The telco say that speeds in excess of 1Gbps were achieved in repeated speed tests using the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ in gigabit-enabled parts of Telstra’s mobile network in Sydney - with one test recording a 1.03 Gbps download speed.
“This is the first time in Australia that speeds in excess of 1Gbps have been demonstrated on a commercial network with a commercial smartphone,” said Kevin Teoh, Telstra’s Head of Mobiles.
“While customers using these phones on Telstra’s 4GX service will typically see downloads speeds in the range of 5-300 Mbps - tests like these show that, from time to time, Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners may see significantly higher speeds in Telstra’s gigabit-enabled coverage areas.”
“Cracking the magic gigabit mark on smartphones is an exciting milestone. As smartphones evolve and we move into the 5G era there will be a new raft of sophisticated features that are enabled by reliably fast data speeds. High-quality augmented reality, virtual personal assistants that anticipate needs and virtual doctors that monitor vital signs are just some of the technologies that are on the horizon,” added Mr Teoh.
Telstra’s gigabit-enabled coverage is available in the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs (3km radius), Brisbane and Adelaide CBDs (2km radius), and a number of sites in selected high traffic locations. Gigabit LTE deployment is also underway in the Perth CBD.
This follows Telstra’s record-breaking demonstration of 4G download speeds at 2 Gbps at Mobile World Congress, which was only one year on from the launch of Telstra’s world first commercially available gigabit-enabled 4G service early in 2017.
