Tasmania at 5G forefront with launch of 5G smartphone and network
A new smartphone era begins today in Tasmania for Telstra customers with the launch of Australia’s first 5G smartphone – the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G on Australia’s first 5G network.
“Telstra have started rolling out 5G in 10 cities around Australia, including Hobart and Launceston, putting them at the forefront of the revolutionary mobile technology,” Tasmanian Regional General Manager Michael Patterson said.
“The rollout of Telstra’s 5G coverage is ongoing and aims to bring the technology to areas where it matters most to customers. Its current footprint focuses on CBD locations and selected regional centres where more than four million people live, work or pass through every day,” he said.
“Over the next 12 months or so we expect our 5G coverage to increase in area almost five-fold and reach into at least 35 Australian cities.
The early 5G rollout in Hobart and Launceston was part of Telstra’s continued investment to ensure both metro and regional centres had access to the latest in telecommunications technology, Mr Patterson said.
“5G promises our customers even better connectivity. Its ultrafast speeds, ultra-low latency and greater bandwidth will transform the way we live and work by enabling all sorts of future applications and technologies.”
Mr Patterson said the first 5G-enabled smartphone was a major step toward bringing the revolutionary mobile technology to life.
Under a landmark partnership with Samsung, the Galaxy S10 5G will be available through Telstra before any other Australian mobile operator.
“This is a game-changing moment for the people of Hobart and Launceston. They are among the first in the world who can access the future of mobile,” Mr Patterson said.
Connecting to Australia’s first 5G network, customers who purchase the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G are at the forefront of this revolutionary technology. It combines Telstra’s 5G and 4GX to provide customers the best possible mobile speeds wherever 5G is available and Australia’s fastest average 4G speeds in 4GX coverage areas.
Samsung Vice President, Mobile Division, Garry McGregor said: “Today is an historic moment in smartphone technology. Australians will be amongst the first in the world to experience the power of 5G as this is the third country globally where Samsung has launched the Galaxy S10 5G.
“We are delivering on a longstanding commitment to ensure that Samsung continues to set new milestones with its smartphones through meaningful innovation in design, engineering and network collaboration. There has been many years of research and development to get to this point and today represents the next chapter for what mobile technology can offer to Australians.”
Telstra currently offers 5G in select areas and is progressively rolling it out to other areas. In non-5G coverage areas, you’ll enjoy Australia’s fastest average 4G speeds on our extensive 4GX coverage footprint and automatically switch to 3G in areas beyond. Check coverage at telstra.com/coverage/5G.
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Media contact:
Chris Marks- Media Manager SA NT TAS
M: 0475 963 824
E: chris.marks@team.telstra.com
Reference number: 056/2019