5G Used Up 20 GB Of Data In Less Than An Hour, Test Shows

Aadhya Khatri - Jun 27, 2019


5G Used Up 20 GB Of Data In Less Than An Hour, Test Shows

A test for 5G speed in Australia shows desirable speed but a deep chasm between peak and average performance, as well as a quick rate of using up data

We may have to wait to 2020 for the first 5G iPhone to be released. However, a test has shown that it might not be a bad idea. There are some issues with the performance of 5G and data plans. The test revealing these issues was carried out by Daniel van Boom of CNET in Australia where 5G has been rolled out by Telstra in some parts of Sydney.

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Telstra has rolled out 5G service in some parts of Sydney

On the bright side, the service is super-fast.

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Limited Range

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Telstra's 5G coverage at the end of June

On paper, 5G sounds like an appealing deal, but there is usually a gap between practice and theory. The base stations are believed to have limited range, and Sydney provides a prime example.

Even when you are in the coverage of the service, expect to see 5G connection quality fluctuates as you move around.

Real-Life Speeds Vary

The same variation is noticed in real-life speeds too. For Netflix, 5G does not seem to affect the speed of download at all. Near Sydney’s central business district, it took the tester’s Optus 4G-connected iPhone XS Max two minutes and ten seconds to download Wine Country. Oppo Reno 5G’s needs nine more seconds to achieve the same outcome.

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testing 5G near Sydney’s central business district

The peak speeds are appealing, but when you compare them with the average, you will notice a big difference.

The tester ran five tests on SpeedTest.net. Two of them were 162 Mbps and 155 Mbps. However, two blocks away from that spot, the speeds are 55 Mbps, 55 Mbps, and 49 Mbps for the last three.

For uploading, in the area with a good connection, the speed is 56Mbps, and in other zones, it is 36Mbps. These figures are recorded when there were not many people connecting to the service.

Data Usage

You may not get the promised speed, which is a real problem for anyone considering using 5G. However, there is another issue. Even if you get that speed, your data plan will be burnt through quickly.

The tester conducted the test in Randwick first, and he used up half of his 20 GB data allowance after 25 minutes of doing speed tests as well as downloading two movies and PUBG.

Telstra loaned the tester the SIM card, but 20 GB is not exactly a small amount of data. So with that rate, he would burn through all of them in less than 60 minutes.

For most “unlimited” plans, the speed will decrease dramatically when you reach the 75 to 100 GB range. So this rate of using up data is truly problematic.

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