Breaking upload speed records on 5G

We’ve achieved another record-breaking result in a live demo of the latest 5G technologies, reaching an upload peak rate of 986Mbps, beating the previous top result and paving the way for more seamless real-world experiences on our network.
Nikos Katinakis · 17 December 2021 · 2 minute read
A smiling woman looks up from her phone as she walks across a town square.

This is the third time we have achieved world firsts with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies. In 2016, we broke the 1Gbps barrier on 4G; in January this year, we set a new download record on 5G, and now we have set a new record in the uplink. It is testament to the continuous efforts of our team to innovate, and I take pride in how, together, we continue to push the boundaries of what this technology can deliver.

We’ve expanded our 5G rapidly this year with more than 4000 sites now in operation extending 5G coverage to over 240 cities and towns nationally and reaching over 75% of the Australian population, and we are continuing to grow our 5G to reach 95% population coverage by mid-2025. All this time, we’ve been working closely with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies to develop our 5G network to the highest standard, and this upload speed result marks another significant milestone for our collaboration.

The record-breaking speed was achieved by combining the data rates from our mid-band and mmWave 5G network spectrum, using Ericsson’s New Radio-Dual Connectivity software feature with uplink four-component Carrier Aggregation and a smartphone form-factor test device powered by Snapdragon® X65 5G Modem-RF System.

Delivering uplink peak rates of close to 1Gbps will enable us to more than double the current uplink throughput in our 5G network. This is particularly important for supporting applications and services that involve uploading vast amounts of data, like video conferencing, sharing content on social media or streaming vision from smart home cameras.

This technical achievement will allow us to confidently implement these new technologies in our 5G network, improving the experience for customers all across our network – but especially in situations like edge of cell connectivity and in-building coverage where the latest 5G standards can benefit you the most.

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By Nikos Katinakis

Group Executive, Networks & IT

Relocating from Toronto, Nikos Katinakis joined Telstra on 15 October 2018 as Group Executive Networks & IT. In this critical role Nikos is responsible for ensuring Telstra delivers next generation network technologies to create the largest, smartest, safest and most reliable networks in the world. This includes rolling out new technology developments, such as those related to 5G, as well as maintaining and enhancing Telstra’s IT platforms. Nikos was previously Executive Vice President Networks for Reliance Jio in India where he was responsible for rolling out the first pan-India 4G LTE Network, with a focus on data management, and enhancing and stabilising the various operating platforms. In his second Jio assignment, Nikos led their wireline/fixed consumer business with the objective to launch full commercial services across major cities in India, while fully automating and simplifying workflows and the customer experience. Prior to this, Nikos was SVP of Architecture and Technology Development for Network and IT at Canada’s Rogers Communications, as well as Chief Information Security Officer, where he was responsible for the technology strategy, selection, and roadmap that guided Rogers’ deployment of next generation capabilities across all access networks and services.

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