Telstra cracks 1Gbps with the Samsung Galaxy S9
Telstra proves just how quick Samsung's new flagship phone is in real-world tests.
Telstra has announced that it's managed to hit 1Gbps downloads using a Samsung Galaxy S9 handset on its 4G LTE network. That's an impressive feat in real-world testing, given the CAT18 modem in the Galaxy S9 peaks at 1.2Gbps, but you always expect a certain amount of loss, even in a lab environment.
Indeed, while Telstra is crowing about the figure, it's also careful to put it in context, with Kevin Teoh, Telstra’s Head of Mobiles stating that "customers using these phones on Telstra’s 4GX service will typically see download speeds in the range of 5-300Mbps" and that "from time to time, Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners may see significantly higher speeds in Telstra’s gigabit-enabled coverage areas."
Telstra has already announced plans to upgrade its existing 4G network to incorporate download speeds of up to 2Gbps, demonstrating the capability at MWC 2018, although as yet there's no hardware that can take advantage of those speeds.
Telstra's announcements around its 2018 4G plans suggests that it'll launch first with a portable modem type device ahead of any handsets that might have 2Gbps capability.
In the meantime, Telstra doesn't specify precisely where its gigabit speed areas are, with its own gigabit coverage maps simply providing guidelines for expected speeds on its 4GX network.
Our own testing in the Sydney CBD with a Galaxy S9+ and a Telstra SIM topped out at 46.2Mbps, although at least at those kinds of data rates, you're not likely to hit excess charges all that quickly.
Want to know more about the Samsung Galaxy S9+? Read our comprehensive review here.
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