Australian telecommunications company Optus reports it has completed what it describes as the world’s first 5G data call using the 2300 MHz spectrum band.
The trial took place in Sydney using Ericsson equipment. Optus says it is the only Australian carrier holding spectrum in both the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, positioning it to expand its 5G services across different frequency ranges.
Dennis Wong, Optus’ network managing director, said the 2300 MHz band — a relatively low frequency for 5G — will deliver higher speeds and deeper coverage, enabling more customers to benefit from 5G services. Wong added that Optus planned to activate the 2300 MHz spectrum sometime in 2020.
In its recent Mobility Report, Ericsson forecasted significant global growth for 5G over the next six years. The company predicted that 5G subscriptions will surpass 2.6 billion and that 5G coverage will reach about 65% of the world within that period. Ericsson also projected total mobile subscriptions, including older-generation networks, would grow from roughly 8.0 billion to 8.9 billion in the same timeframe. Average monthly smartphone data consumption was expected to climb from around 7.2 GB today to approximately 24 GB per device.
Ericsson estimated that by 2025 more than a quarter of global mobile subscriptions will be on 5G networks and those subscriptions will account for nearly 45% of worldwide mobile data traffic.
Complementing these industry projections, a Deloitte consumer survey found that many buyers are eager to upgrade once 5G-capable phones become widely available. The survey indicated that two-thirds of consumers are more likely to purchase a new phone when 5G devices are on the market. Among current smartphone users, 16% said 5G capability would be the most important factor in choosing their next phone. By comparison, 26% prioritized display quality and 22% cited brand as their top concern.
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