We've got mmWave spectrum - here's what it means for you

We have acquired mmWave spectrum, a new cutting-edge technology that will enable even faster 5G internet for Optus customers.

Imagine you’re at a major sporting event or tournament with tens of thousands of roaring spectators and after a player scores, you point your phone to the field and get real-time information about the game or the player. Or perhaps you’ve just seen an incredible goal but you didn’t quite catch it from the best angle on your handset. Well, thanks to the extreme bandwidth of 5G mmWave you (along with thousands of other spectators) can replay that moment from dozens of different angles simultaneously, at high definition, directly on your mobile device. Additionally, you are able to watch live play, from multiple angles simultaneously.

When you’re at home, mmWave will enable seamless wireless streaming and gaming even in a busy, multi-dwelling high-rise apartment close to the city. And for businesses, mmWave will be the catalyst for game-changing advances in technology, paving the way for remote-controlled automation such as robotics in warehouses and factories, or the creation of secured private networks at university campuses to support thousands of students and academics.

mmWave will bring all of this and more to life says Optus Networks Managing Director, Lambo Kanagaratnam - and we can’t wait to deliver this to our customers.

What is Optus 5G mmWave?

mmWave is a type of 5G technology that’s set to jumpstart the next great technological leap across the world. Promising lightning-fast 5G speeds, the latest testing has shown that mmWave is already seeing speeds of more than 4 Gigabits per second.

With mmWave's next-level bandwidth, we can expect breakneck speeds and just as importantly, reduced latency. This means that even in dense areas like the Sydney or Melbourne CBD, we can safely say goodbye to things like video buffering and glitchy video calls as mmWave will give our 5G network the ability to support many users at the same time which brings faster, smoother internet for everyone to enjoy.

The future of 5G with Optus.

In our mission to become Australia's most loved everyday brand and to build long lasting customer relationships, we’re all about bringing the best experience to our customers.

As part of our strategic plan Optus continues to build a world-class 5G network making it even better by investing into a range of new licences in the 26GHz spectrum band. $226.2 million went into acquiring 800MHz of 26GHz spectrum in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and a range of regional areas, and 600MHz in Hobart and Margaret River in Western Australia.

With the fastest 5G network in Sydney and Melbourne, the additional spectrum will give us the ability to support an even faster network and kick-start the use of this state-of-the-art mmWave technology in Australia.

The improved capacity and speed of mmWave will bring seamless video experiences beyond just streaming videos such as Augmented and Virtual Reality as well as next generation cloud gaming services. We’ll also be able to support massive simultaneous usage at transport hubs and major events.

We've gone 'gold' in spectrum acquisition.

On top of all the excitement, we've also secured the best and most highly valued position at the top of the spectrum band in most of the capital cities and regions. This includes the ‘golden GHz' segment that's supported by both the 28GHz range enabled in US and the 26GHz range to be enabled in Australia.

Having access to both 28Ghz and 26GHz spectrums gives us early access to more 5G smart phones which are already more widely available in the rest of the world. Plus, Optus customers can expect to benefit from Singtel’s similar spectrum holdings to drive the user equipment ecosystem for this spectrum band across Singtel Group - which means a consistent experience when travelling internationally.

Harvey Wright, Head of 5G, said that Optus would continue to focus on delivering the best network experience for customers and raise the bar on value and service:

“We understand how important our role is in connecting people. What is truly exciting about this spectrum is the ability to really deliver on the future potential of 5G and ultra-fast speeds.”

“In short, we are armed with the ability to build and expand our 5G network and deliver on the future of 5G in the home, office or on-the-go for our customers.”

“The world-class Optus network is our biggest and best yet and we will continue to invest to ensure wherever our customers live, work and play they get a fantastic network experience without paying a premium.”

Optus 5G rolling out in selected areas. Not available in NT or TAS. Check if 5G is available in your area here.