Optus trialling mmWave 5G home internet with 2.5Gbps download speeds

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 26 November 2021

Optus today announced that it's trialling 5G home internet over mmWave (which the telco brands 5G Max), and has achieved initial average download speeds of 2.5Gbps. While there's only a single customer currently taking part in this trial, Optus plans to extend the trial to further participates over the coming weeks. The trial will be invite-only.

Optus has yet to confirm when it will make mmWave 5G home internet available to anyone who wants (and is in a coverage area) and how much plans will cost. Optus' mmWave 5G network is available in select parts of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

mmWave 5G is the fastest form of 5G, operating on incredibly high frequencies such as 26GHz. It can reach much faster speeds than standard 5G (for comparison, Optus reports typical evening speeds of around 200Mbps on its current 5G home internet plans), and also has lower latency. This does however come at the cost of range, and mmWave 5G can also have trouble penetrating buildings. This will make modem placement crucial when it comes to mmWave 5G home internet.

While only a lucky few will be able to get access to Optus' mmWave 5G home internet, its "standard" 5G footprint now covers over 1.2 million addresses. Here are Optus' current 5G home internet plans:

Optus Plus Everyday 5G

5G Home Internet 50/11 Mbps
Unlimited Data
Deal: $54/mth for a year, then $69/mth or as notified. New services. Incl intro offer + extra $5/mth off. Min cost $522. Ends 6/10.

$54/mth

Min. cost $54

Link not supplied

$54/mth

Min. cost $54

Link not supplied

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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