Telstra, in partnership with Ericsson and MediaTek, has set a new benchmark in 5G connectivity by reaching a peak downlink speed of 9.4 Gbps on its live commercial 5G Standalone (SA) network.
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In the lab Telstra drove the needle even higher, surpassing the 10 Gbps downlink speed threshold in a mobile network using a non-commercial setup.
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The latest achievement in downlink speed provides improved capabilities for high-capacity connectivity. With more customers able to enjoy faster download speeds at the same time, customers overall will benefit from smoother video streaming, more seamless online gaming, and rapid content downloads, particularly in high demand locations such as stadiums, shopping centres, and transportation hubs.
While actual consumer speeds won’t reach the level achieved in this new record, consumers with compatible devices in areas where Telstra has the necessary frequencies deployed will experience increased typical download speeds.
As more applications require high throughput, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), the increased capacity supported by this new network speed capability ensures more users will be able to remain connected at the highest possible performance.
This speed milestone was achieved at Telstra’s Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast, where a live commercial mobile site was equipped with an Ericsson Radio System base station running the latest 5G Advanced software. The latest MediaTek Platform provided the device-side capabilities to leverage the improved network performance. This achievement reflects efforts to combine multiple spectrum layers and advanced connectivity features, including New Radio Dual Connectivity (NR-DC) and NR Carrier Aggregation.
By integrating these capabilities into Telstra’s commercial network, this new benchmark shows the potential of collaborative efforts in pushing the limits of 5G technology for Australian consumers and businesses. Ericsson’s hardware (RAN Processor 6672, AIR 5322, AIR 3258 and Radio 4466), connected through Router 6675 low-latency cell site router to the Ericsson Packet Core Gateway along with MediaTek’s leading chipset technology, build a robust foundation for this achievement in Telstra’s network, ensuring it is ready for the demands of future applications and services.
As the demand for data continues to grow, the partnership demonstrates a heightened focus on delivering a network that not only meets today’s needs but is ready for the challenges of tomorrow. From enhancing everyday connectivity to enabling cutting-edge applications, these efforts will ensure Australians can fully embrace the benefits of 5G.
Sri Amirthalingam, Telstra’s Executive of Wireless Network Engineering, says, “With partners Ericsson and MediaTek we have once again increased the peak download speed capability of our network. This achievement is more than just a speed record, it improves the network’s capacity, which helps deliver consistency of service irrespective of time or location. We’re making our infrastructure work harder through engineering excellence to ensure the highest level of performance so that customers benefit from the most advanced 5G capabilities available.”
Emilio Romeo, Head of Ericsson, Australia, and New Zealand, says, “This achievement is a demonstration of how partnerships and advanced technology come together to create meaningful benefits for users. Faster download speeds are not just about numbers – they represent an opportunity to transform how Australians experience connectivity. The strength of our collaboration with Telstra and MediaTek lies in its ability to deliver practical innovation, enabling networks that are not only high-performing today but also future-ready for the demands of tomorrow.”
Dr. HC Hwang, General Manager, Wireless Communication System and Partnership, MediaTek, Inc., says, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Telstra and Ericsson in achieving this remarkable 10Gbps 5G download speed benchmark. The latest MediaTek Platform represents a significant evolution in our device technology, delivering unparalleled performance and efficiency. This milestone underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and highlights the strong technical investment and leadership spirit that drives our partnership with Telstra. Together, we’re building a network that’s ready for the applications and services of the future.”
On the network side Telstra used Ericsson RAN Processor 6672 (Generation 4 baseband), which Telstra deployed as a World First into the production network (Ericsson & Telstra advance connectivity with a world-first deployment). For the latest downlink speed demo, this was connected to the latest mmWave radio AIR 5322, which bonded together 8 x 100 MHz TDD carriers, complimented with the AIR 3258 which now bonds together 100+80 MHz of 3600 MHz TDD spectrum and the Radio 4466 operating a full 50 MHz of 2600 MHz FDD spectrum.
Ericsson RAN Processor 6672 was connected using Ericsson’s Router 6675 low latency cell site router to the Ericsson Dual Mode Core. On the device side, the demonstration was conducted using the latest platform from MediaTek.
About Telstra
Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company, offering a full range of communications services. Our purpose is to build a connected future so everyone can thrive.
About Ericsson
Ericsson’s high-performing, programmable networks provide connectivity for billions of people every day. For nearly 150 years, we’ve been pioneers in creating technology for communication. We offer mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises. Together with our customers and partners, we make the digital world of tomorrow a reality.
