Let’s talk upload speed. Optus and mmWave

Optus has broken another Australian 5G record, this time in upload speeds. We smashed 5G upload speeds as part of our millimetre Wave (mmWave) testing on our live commercial network.

At Optus, we are working hard to build Australia's fastest 5G network, and recently another milestone has clearly shown Optus is out in front - smashing the 5G mobile upload speeds as part of our roll-out of mmWave technology.

Together with our technology partner, Nokia, we have been pushing the capabilities of our super-fast 5G network so our customers can enjoy the best 5G internet possible. 

We achieved an incredible 300Mbps; this record-breaking upload speed was performed on our 5G mmWave site in Strathpine, Brisbane, by combining our 4G 2100 MHz spectrum with the brand-new mmWave spectrum operating on a single user MIMO (Multi-input Multi-output) mode using a commercial-grade Casa Systems CPE.

The difference between upload and download speeds? 

What does 'upload speed' and 'download speed' mean? A great way to think of it is 'sending' and 'receiving' data from the internet.  

When you download something, you're 'receiving' packets of data from the internet. This could be a simple image or a song or video. With faster download speeds, you can do things like download large files more quickly and stream HD video without buffering. 

Uploading means you're 'sending' data to the internet. While most people rely more heavily on downloads, uploads are also important.

Both download and upload speeds are essential for online gaming, social media and video calls, which require constant upload and download of data.

Advantage of a Fast Internet Upload

For most online activities, Optus 5G delivers speeds that can give users a smooth internet experience. Upload speed becomes much more important if you want to use frequent video chat, upload high-resolution images, or livestream video from your home. Some people don't just consume data; they also generate large amounts of it.

The following are some instances of applications that benefit from Optus fast 5G upload speeds:

. Large attachments on outgoing emails

. Sharing large files with co-workers, friends and family

. Large attachments on outgoing emails

. FaceTime

. Sharing and uploading videos on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other social media channels.

“We already know that our 5G download speeds can be blisteringly fast, delivering incredible 5G speed for our customers. However, with more content being created and uploaded than ever before, having access to faster upload speeds through the upcoming mmWave 5G will be necessary for many of our customers, especially in the business space,” said Lambo Kanagaratnam, Managing Director Networks, Optus.

For us at Optus, we are connecting customers with technology that improves their lives, and increased upload speeds on mmWave 5G will save time for both businesses and consumers as it's rolled out over the coming months.

Discover more about the latest 5G mmWave spectrum and what it means for you.