Optus Flicks the Switch on 5G Standalone for Home Internet

Optus launched its 5G standalone network in 2022 for its mobile connectivity and after encouraging feedback, we are the first telco in Australia to launch 5G Standalone (5G SA) for our consumer home internet service. 

One of the key benefits for end customers to enjoy now is the improved coverage and network connectivity. 5G SA provides a greater 5G coverage footprint, allowing users to connect to 5G in more locations whilst delivering enhanced network performance along with providing the foundation for Optus to deliver the next wave of advanced services. 

5G SA creates the potential for network slicing, cloud orchestration, edge computing and self-healing networks that will progressively elevate our home connectivity’s capabilities. But for the moment, 5G SA means that more customers will have access to Optus’ awarding winning 5G internet alternative and these customers may optimise 5G to help get the most out of their home connectivity experience. 

This all sounds great, but what is 5G SA?

The 5G network as it currently exists across Australia uses 5G non-standalone which means that it relies on the 4G radio and core network and has to lily pad to 5G to reap its benefits. 5G SA runs independently of the 4G network – it is built on our cloud-native 5G SA Core and 5G Radio architecture. This means that it communicates directly to the 5G base station without relying on 4G, allowing more devices to communicate at the same time with a more stable and consistent 5G experience.  

From a technical perspective, we partner with Ericsson to build the 5G core network, enabling the speed, intelligence, scale and security to deliver 5G services to our customers. 

We’re proud to continue our successful and long-standing partnership with Ericsson and support its goal of delivering world-class 5G services across the globe.

So how do I access the benefits of 5G SA? 

5G SA is currently available to eligible customers who have one of our new plug and play Ultra WiFi 5G modems, and sign up to a new Optus 5G home internet plan from 26 August, 2024 onwards. All other existing customers using an Optus Ultra WiFi 5G modem on eligible plans will gain access to 5G SA in late 2024. 

Earlier this year, Optus’ 5G wireless internet plans were available to approximately 2 million homes and business. Now, and thanks to 5G SA, those eligible customers jump to 3.6 million homes and businesses by the end of August. More postcodes means that more people have the potential to enjoy a more personalised and better overall experience thanks to 5G SA. 

What does an optimised experience look like?  

With 5G SA technology, customers can enjoy faster, smoother video streaming, gaming, and quicker browsing. The reduced latency means less buffering, fewer interruptions, and a more seamless experience when watching your favourite shows or surfing the web.

5G SA is also the foundation for some of the most transformative next gen capabilities such as cloud gaming and extended reality. The future of 5G SA allows for ultra-low latency (buffering), which means that you can get very granular and optimise your experience for unique use cases.  For example, low latency slicing could be used for online gaming where better ping will mean an advantage over their opponents, or those who want an immersive experience in augmented and virtual reality - both require close to real time response.

But you don’t need to be a computer scientist to appreciate reliable and high performing internet. For our customers we know that this means a great network experience, which we were recently acknowledged for in WhistleOut’s 2024 Award for Best 5G Home Wireless Broadband Provider, which acknowledges our strong speeds and competitive prices. 

What comes next?

Ultimately, Optus 5G SA will use a flexible and programmable cloud-native technology, this means that our consumers get a reliable and modern alternative to traditional fixed internet services, with the future potential benefits of quick improvements and seamless service.

5G SA is directionally important. It keeps Australia at the forefront and our network ready as this technology matures. Optus will continue to build on 5G SA to unlock more innovative solutions for more of our customers, including expanding its benefits to the enterprise segment.