Optus is set to fast-track its 5G network rollout across Australia, with the telco expecting to finish two years ahead of schedule. Part of its plan includes doubling down on Optus 5G+, a standalone network that reportedly performs better than existing infrastructure.
Optus’ sped-up 5G strategy follows the network-sharing agreement with TPG Telecom (Vodafone’s parent company) taking effect. As mentioned alongside Vodafone’s recent network expansion, Optus aims to install 1,500 5G sites in regional Australia by the end of 2028, and 2,444 sites by the end of 2030.
Optus 5G+ is the new name given to the telco’s standalone 5G network infrastructure, described as “the next evolution of 5G“. Optus first started talking about standalone 5G in 2022, with the new naming convention set to simplify its network offering. Because it operates independently of infrastructure shared with 4G, Optus claims the technology “provides up to five times more” 5G coverage and a “greater capacity”.
It’s not a separate product, meaning customers on 5G plans with compatible phones can access the network. Optus advertises the more powerful network as being available in regional locations including Busselton, Orange, Toowoomba, Ballarat, and Launceston.
To see where it’s available, a network coverage map on the telco’s website lists Optus 5G+ as a selectable option. It’s not as widespread as what Optus calls “Standard 5G”, making it a complementary network boost for residents and travellers in available areas.
Overall, Optus reaches 98.5% of Australians with its combined network coverage, compared to Telstra’s 99.6%, and Vodafone’s recent rise to 98.4%. Meanwhile, its 5G coverage was last reported as 80.5% of the country’s population as of March 2024. Based on the current expansion efforts, that figure is likely to climb quickly in the coming years.
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