Australian telecommunications operator Telstra has launched the country’s first 5G mobile device – the HTC 5G Hub.
It was also the world’s first G/4GX media hotspot and functions both as a mobile corporate solution as well as a family entertainment hub that can stream shows and games to televisions in 4K.
HTC said it was designed to be a portable, ultra-fast travel router that can support up to 20 Wi-Fi enabled devices and a gigabit Ethernet connection.
It offers business users secure mobile connectivity with corporate VPN authentication and remote wipe capability, but is just as easily put to use as an entertainment hub and voice-activated remote control for other smart devices in the home.
Thomas Dexmier, Country Manager HTC Australia and New Zealand, said that the device combines the capabilities of a mobile hotspot and an Android operating system.
Telstra’s CEO Andrew Penn said in a media statement that HTC has been a key partner of Telstra in innovating new technologies and the launch of the media hotspot is an important milestone in the network’s transition to 5G.
HTC 5G Hub’s current footprint focuses on central business districts and selected regional centers that over four million people live, work or pass through every day.
More devices coming
Throughout 2019, Telstra will be extending its 5G footprint to cover more cities, selected regional areas and traffic hotspots.
“This is just the start,” Penn said. “The rollout of 5G coverage is ongoing and, as 5G develops, there will be more devices and more technologies to come.”
In a corporate blog post on Telstra Exchange, Penn disclosed that the company’s investment in its mobile network to bring 5G to Australia is substantial, reaching around $8 billion over the last five years (to 30 June 2019).
“We have started rolling out 5G in 10 cities around Australia. Over the next 12 months or so we expect our 5G coverage to increase in area almost five-fold and reach into at least 35 Australian cities,” he said.
“Importantly, all of Telstra’s 5G devices will work in our 5G and 4GX coverage areas, to provide customers our best possible mobile speeds available,” he added.
