In collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Ericsson, Telstra has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in 5G technology, achieving a record-breaking uplink speed of 340 Mbps. This achievement showcases the power of cutting-edge software, spectrum allocation, and technological advancements in the capabilities of 5G networks.
The new world record is expected to significantly improve the data uploading experience for Telstra customers using their 5G Standalone (SA) devices, which are a hundred times faster than traditional 3G uplink speeds.
Uplink Carrier Aggregation on a 5G Standalone Network
Telstra’s new 5G SA uplink capability was made possible by consolidating its mid-band spectrum holdings to form a substantial 140 MHz channel dedicated to transmitting data from devices to the network. This is complemented by a 240 MHz channel for data reception, which provides a maximum downlink speed of 3.6 Gbps and an uplink speed of 340 Mbps— the fastest worldwide when utilizing spectrum below 6 GHz.
Sri Amirthalingam, Telstra Executive for Global Networks and Technology expressed the company’s delight following this milestone.
“We are proud to be the first in the world to deliver this cutting-edge 5G uplink capability, which will give our customers an enhanced experience when sharing their content while they are out and about,” said Amirthalingam.
Qualcomm Technologies played a major part in the successful test of the 5G SA network. The mobile testing device was equipped with Qualcomm Technologies’ latest Snapdragon® 5G Modem-RF System, along with an existing Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro Mobile Broadband device, within the operational commercial network on the Gold Coast.
“This live test proves that uplink carrier aggregation on a 5G Standalone network has the potential to significantly increase upload speeds and capacity, thus unlocking new experiences for consumers,” said Durga Malladi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Technology Planning & Edge Solutions, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
A Unified 5G Data Channel
Meanwhile, Ericsson’s most recent software integrates various combinations of frequency bands and types to facilitate a unified 5G data channel for both uplink and downlink transmission.
“Ericsson’s latest software features enable Telstra to capitalize on the full spectrum portfolio for wider coverage, whilst providing far superior data rates,” said Emilio Romeo, Managing Director of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand.
The uplink and downlink 5G data channels operate seamlessly, delivering a symmetrical 5G service that caters to the growing need for data-intensive applications like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), as well as high-definition video surveillance cameras.