Telstra today released a statement regarding its plans for 2015. They include talk of future 5G technologies, the implementation of Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) or “HD voice”, and the implementation of the world’s first category 9 (CAT9) 4G network. To put that last one in perspective; Telstra’s recent 4GX launch, the current-fastest 4G network in Australia, is CAT6.
5G
“Telstra will commence foundational 5G work with Ericsson ahead of an anticipated commercial network launch around 2020.” Those were the exact words.
No specifics with regards to what this technology is, how it works, or the kinds of speeds it will deliver have been given. All we know is that in roughly 5 years, Telstra will possibly have 5G.
This was probably predictable anyway, but it’s nice to be reminded that our nation’s largest telco is planning for the future.
Voice over LTE
VoLTE might not sound exciting, but it is. Right now voice quality on your phone is limited by 3G technologies. Your 4G connection is only used for internet services.
Thanks to the huge amount of data that can be transferred by 4G, significant improvements can be made by utilising it for standard calls. The Telstra announcement comes after Vodafone released a statement last year about its own plans to bring VoLTE to its Australian customers.
This technology has already been implemented overseas and the difference in quality is amazing. Not only is the person on the other end clearer, but the system is smart enough to actively identify and cancel out background noise. No more having to yell when you’re on a busy street.
The problem at launch will be simple: to enjoy a VoLTE call, both users will need to have an eligible handset and be on the Telstra network. If not, you’ll still be restricted to regular old 3G quality chats.
There are already more than 10 phones capable of using VoLTE on the Telstra network, thanks to recent updates they have received. The VoLTE upgrades are expected to go live in April this year (2015).
Perhaps as, or even more promising, is Telstra's plans to follow VoLTE with VoWiFi (you guessed it: voice over WiFi), which is also a service available in the US. Everyone has that one part of their house in which call quality drops, or is even unavailable. Worse, a lot of folk simply receive no coverage in some rooms.
Voice over WiFi fixes this. It means that you can make a call any time you're connected to a WiFi network.
Depending on how Telstra implements this, there's also the opportunity to partner with overseas companies to provide free VoWiFi calling from other countries to home when travelling. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. At this point any extra VoWiFi benefits are pure speculation.
Can’t wait for 5G? Have some even faster 4G
Telstra’s 4GX network is already insanely fast. It’s the only CAT6 network in Australia, with Optus and Vodafone limited to CAT4. Yet, being the quickest is apparently not enough for Telstra. Enter: CAT9.
From the sound of things, the new standard will be up to 3x faster than the current 4GX network, which we already tested ourselves at upwards of 110Mbps on the day it launched.
Interestingly, the claimed fastest theoretical speed of this network - 450Mbps - is slower than what Optus today claimed to have achieved over its own LTE network. It will be interesting to see how real world speeds play out.
Unfortunately, there are currently no CAT9-capable devices in Australia. Telstra is “in discussions with a range of smartphone manufacturers about bringing Cat 9 handsets to Australia with the first expected to be on-market as early as the end of 2015,” according to Mike Wright – Telstra Group Managing Director Networks.
This world-first three band carrier aggregation network (20MHz+20MHz+20MHz) will launch in select capital city CBDs by April 2015. Compatible devices expected to follow in late 2015.
The future is fast and bright
While the 5G announcement is no surprise and still a long way off, the implementation of VoLTE and a CAT9 network in 2015 is exciting.
We’re most keen to see how VoLTE functions. After all, 4G networks are already about as fast as you need them to be for current-day smartphone use, but call quality has needed an upgrade for a long time.
We can’t wait to give VoLTE a go later this year, both on the first-to-announce Vodafone network, and now on Telstra’s own take.
Alex Angove-Plumb
Digital Content Editor
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