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Optus posts 10Gbps aggregated throughput on 5G site

The Singaporean-owned telco aggregated spectrum in the 3500Mhz and mmWave bands on top of existing 4G spectrum band layers to achieve a 'new 5G record'.
Written by Campbell Kwan, Contributor

Optus has achieved 10Gbps aggregated throughput on a live 5G site, which it touted is a "new 5G record".

The test used Nokia networking equipment and was performed in Strathpine, Brisbane, Optus said.

The 50Gbps speed was recorded by aggregating Optus' 5G spectrum bands of 3500Mhz and mmWave on top of existing 4G spectrum band layers, the telco explained.

Using this particular configuration of spectrum could result in commercial single user peak speeds reaching the 4Gbps mark. Currently, Optus' 5G customers are seeing single user peak speeds of around 1-2Gbps, Optus Networks managing director Lambo Kanagaratnam said.

Adding the mmWave spectrum layer and increasing site capacity to 10Gbps could also mean Optus is able to support around 250 4K video streams per 5G site, he said, which would be an uplift of more than 230% compared to what is currently available.

"This is a fantastic demonstration of how mmWave spectrum, integrated into existing 5G and 4G sites, has the capability to significantly boost overall site capacity -- which will be a gamechanger for our customers."  

In response to Optus' claim of creating a new 5G record, a Telstra spokesperson told ZDNet that it showed a "potential site throughput of more than 20Gbps" on its 5G network over the weekend. 

According to the Telstra spokesperson, the telco conducted 5G MU-MIMO tests in Barossa Valley over the weekend that achieved 5.1Gbps, which it said resulted in the 20Gbps figure when calculating speed using Optus' own methodology.

"Congratulations to Optus but, unfortunately, it's not a new record," the Telstra spokesperson said.

"Announcements like the one Optus made this morning don't mean much if you don't have coverage. And coverage matters, which is why we have built three times more sites than our competitors."

Elsewhere in the telco sector, Reliance Jio announced it will make a payment of ₹1,497 crore to Bharti Airtel to use some of the latter's spectrum in the 800MHz band in the Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Mumbai circles.

By gaining this right, Reliance Jio now has access to 30MHz of spectrum in the 800MHz band in Mumbai circle and 20MHz of spectrum in the 800MHz band in the Andhra Pradesh and Delhi circles.

At last month's spectrum auction, Reliance Jio splashed the cash by picking up almost 490MHz worth of spectrum for ₹57,100 crore. By comparison, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea each spent ₹18,700 crore and ₹1,990 crore, respectively. With those amounts, Bharti Airtel acquired 355.45MHz of spectrum across sub-GHz, 1,800MHz, and 2,300MHz bands while Vodafone added 11.8MHz across five different bands.

Updated at 9:05am AEST, 8 April 2021: added comments from Telstra spokesperson 

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