Telstra is hard at work building its 5G network, with it now covering over 46 towns and cities. This includes parts of Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Launceston, Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, and more.
In addition, Telstra how has a whole range of 5G devices available including the Galaxy S20 family, the Galaxy Note 20 family, the OPPO Find X2 Pro, and more.
How to check Telstra 5G coverage
When 5G first launched in Australia, Telstra previously only offered static coverage maps of the towns and cities where 5G was available. This made it a little tricky to to ascertain whether or not you actually had 5G connectivity. Since the maps were just images, you weren't able to zoom in on them.
However, WhistleOut's coverage checker tool has been upgraded with 5G coverage maps, making it easy to see whether you can get 5G at your location. All you need to do is punch in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.
This map will show you if you have 5G coverage in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, but unticking 4G and 3G can help make it clearer. The drop down menu lets you choose between telcos.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
You can also check out our interactive Telstra 5G coverage map below, and compare Telstra 5G coverage in your area to Optus 5G coverage. Since Vodafone's 5G network is almost non-existent right now, it currently isn't included in our coverage maps.
Telstra 5G coverage map
What else you need to know about Telstra 5G
At this stage, Telstra seemingly has the widest amount of 5G coverage in Australia, and based on our real world testing, the fastest. In our speed tests, we've seen 5G devices get speeds of over 1Gbps on the Telstra 5G network, compared to max speeds of around 400Mbps on the Optus 5G network. Of course, speeds will also vary depending on your location.
5G isn't available on every Telstra plan, however. If you're after 5G on your mobile, you'll need a "Medium" plan at minimum, which will set you back $65 per month. Here are Telstra's SIM-only plans that include 5G:
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If you're after 5G mobile broadband, you'll also need to opt for "Medium" or better. Here are Telstra's 5G-ready mobile broadband plans.
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Telstra's approach to 5G varies a bit to Optus'. While Optus is pushing 5G as an NBN alternative with its 5G Home Wireless Broadband, Telstra predominantly sees it as a mobile first experience.
That being said, thanks to a recent plan refresh, Telstra's top mobile broadband plan now includes 200GB of data per month. While that won't be enough for everyone, it's definitely at the point where it could be a viable alternative to a fixed line connection for some.
Telstra is however planning to launch 5G home broadband later this year and is positioning the service as another option for those stuck on FTTN or fixed wireless NBN. Concrete pricing and availability for Telstra 5G home broadband has yet to be announced.
Telstra 5G devices
If you're in a Telstra 5G area and are keen to get a device, here's the full range of 5G smartphones currently available on a Telstra plan:
Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- 108MP camera
- Android
Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G 128GB
- 6.9 inch display
- 108MP camera
- Android
Galaxy Note10+ 5G 512GB
- 6.8 inch display
- 16MP camera
- Android
And here are plans that include Telstra's 5G portable hotspot, the 5G Wi-Fi Pro:
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