Coast in internet fast lane

GOLD Coast residents will today become the first people in Australia to taste super-fast 5G internet speeds ahead of a rollout across the country.

Telstra will this morning switch on several 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hot spots in central Southport which will allow all mobile phone users to make high-speed connections.

The hotpots, located in Scaroborugh and Nerang Street, are the first of the rollout, which will continue through 2019.

Telstra group managing director of networks Mike Wright said the 5G was capable of delivering download speeds of more than 3 Gbps, “which is capable of supporting around 1000 HD movies being streamed simultaneously.”

“We have said we intend to lead on 5G and with these 5G- enabled Wi-Fi hot spots Australian consumers will be among the first people in the world to try the technology,” he said.

“Taking 5G technology out of a lab and into the hands of consumers is another key milestone on Telstra’s road map to offering 5G services in 2019.”

Actual broadband speeds experienced on the 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hot spots are likely to be lower than the maximum depending on the type of device being used, distance from the hotspot and the number of people connected to the hotspot at the one time.

Telstra last month announced it would trial the fast internet on the Gold Coast as part of a $60 million spend to update infrastructure.

Drone technology and how 5G could be used to improve rescues is one major area of investigation.