Optus expands 5G across Geelong

MAJOR Australian teclo Optus is forging ahead with its 5G network rollout across the nation, with10 existing Geelong towers recently upgraded to include the technology.

The upgrades bring the total number of 5G-enabled sites in the Geelong region to 60, of which 43 now offer Optus 5G+, dedicated network infrastructure that runs independently of 4G and boasts broader mobile coverage and greater capacity.

The broader Geelong area is also serviced by 84 Optus 4G sites.

“We are proud to say that many businesses and customers in the Geelong area can experience the positive impacts of Optus 5G connectivity following these ten existing sites getting a fast track 5G upgrade,” Optus local general manager Jayson Grool said.

“The improved connectivity for Geelong and surrounding areas will bring significant benefits, including faster data speeds and wider 5G mobile coverage. We hope this will help the community to stay better connected.”

Mr Grool said the local 5G rollout was part of a broader national initiative to increase mobile coverage and connectivity, as the telco continues to play its part in reducing the digital divide.

“By 2030, we will have about 2,500 towers that we’ve built and/or upgraded as part of our plan for connectivity right across Australia.

“And of course, Geelong being such an important and pivotal part of Victoria, it was really important that Geelong was one of those first major cities, or regional cities, that we focused on to get the job done.

“We’ll continue to look at which towers we need to upgrade, at what particular date, and we will upgrade those towers between now and 2030.”

These upgrades will be prompted by factors such as population growth, mobile network usage and housing density.