You can order Australia's first 5G device right now

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 22 May 2019

Telstra has started taking orders for Australia's first commercially available 5G device: the HTC 5G Hub. As the name suggests, the HTC 5G Hub is a 5G portable WiFi hotspot. It can be plugged in at home, but also has an 24-hour battery life for use untethered.

Online orders kick off today, ahead of an in-store release date on May 28 next week (Tuesday). HTC 5G Hub plans are as follows:

25GB: $70 per month
60GB: $94 per month
100GB: $104 per month

These are all sold as a 24-month contract.

Given the comparatively limited data allowances, the HTC 5G Hub more so seems intended as mobile broadband solution, rather than a full fledged NBN alternative.

In terms of specs, the HTC 5G Hub is a portable modem based on a Snapdragon 855 processor and a 7,660mAh battery. It can support up to 20 simultaneous devices over Wi-Fi, and also has an Ethernet port for connecting wired devices.

There's more to the Hub than just 5G connectivity. Since it runs Android Pie, the HTC 5G Hub is almost an entertainment device. There's a 5-inch 720p touchscreen, support for Android apps (such as Netflix), and a USB Type-C port for connecting it to external displays.

Other key specifications include 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage.

It is of course worth mentioning that Telstra's 5G network is still in early stages. Limited coverage is currently available in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, on the Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Toowoomba, and only in select areas. You can check out Telstra's 5G network coverage maps here.

Please note that these maps show where Telstra anticipates it will have 5G coverage by June 30. It's current 5G footprint is smaller, but sits within those areas.

The HTC 5G Hub also supports 4G connectivity for when 5G isn't available.

Read more about 5G here.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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