Optus & Nokia hit 3.5Gbps in 6G trial in Australia
Wed, 5th Aug 2026 (Today)
Optus and Nokia have completed a 6G research trial in Australia, reaching download speeds of 3.5Gbps on upper 6GHz spectrum.
The companies conducted the trial on an existing Optus mobile site alongside a live 5G network, using a MediaTek-powered smartphone test device and a Nokia upper 6GHz massive MIMO antenna. The work was designed to examine how future mobile networks could use the upper 6GHz band while relying on much of today's infrastructure.
The result comes as regulators, governments and industry groups consider how to allocate upper 6GHz spectrum for future mobile services. Demand for network capacity is rising as more traffic comes from video, cloud computing, connected devices and AI-related applications.
Spectrum trial
Testing used 200MHz of upper 6GHz spectrum, made up of two 100MHz channels between 6,890MHz and 7,090MHz. That is wider than the 100MHz maximum typically used in today's 5G 3.5GHz band. It was paired with an antenna system using 768 antenna elements and 128 transceiver chains.
According to Optus, outdoor tests showed the upper 6GHz band delivered a coverage footprint similar to its existing 5G 3.5GHz spectrum when combined with the more advanced antenna setup. That suggests operators may be able to introduce future services in the band without a wholesale rebuild of existing radio sites.
Indoor testing formed another part of the trial, with the companies assessing how in-building mobile systems could be designed to support a later move to 6G. The project also included what Optus and Nokia described as a world-first use of an AI-powered robotic dog to automate indoor signal measurements for network design.
The robotic platform gathered mobile coverage data inside buildings, a task often carried out through manual surveys. The companies said automating those measurements could improve the speed and consistency of indoor network planning.
AI networks
Sri Amirthalingam, Chief Technology Officer at Optus, linked the project to the operator's longer-term work on mobile standards and spectrum policy.
"This trial is an important milestone in Optus' long-term 6G research program and helps us better understand how future mobile networks can be designed to meet Australia's unique connectivity needs. Achieving 3.5Gbps using upper 6GHz spectrum demonstrates the significant opportunity this band could provide for future networks as demand for data-intensive applications such as AI services, immersive video, cloud applications and connected devices continues to grow.
"As networks become increasingly AI-native, that enhanced capability will unlock a new generation of AI-powered experiences, from smarter digital assistants that can understand their environment to more immersive education and real-time support for frontline workers. Our focus is on turning these innovations into meaningful benefits for Australians," said Sri Amirthalingam, Chief Technology Officer at Optus.
The trial was conducted at the Optus Sydney campus using Nokia's 6G proof-of-concept AirScale massive MIMO active antenna unit, a MediaTek M90 test device and a Rohde & Schwarz TSMS8 scanner for signal measurement. The setup was intended to test technical feasibility in conditions closer to an operational network than a laboratory demonstration.
Future planning
For Nokia, the project also served as an early test of how radio access networks may develop as operators prepare for a transition beyond 5G. The vendor said the work showed that upper 6GHz spectrum could provide more capacity while remaining practical for wide-area deployment.
"This trial with Optus demonstrates the potential of upper 6GHz spectrum to deliver the high capacity and performance that future networks will require, while also validating how existing infrastructure can evolve towards 6G.
"At Nokia, we see AI and connectivity becoming increasingly intertwined, with AI-native networks and AI-RAN enabling operators to deliver greater efficiency, better customer experiences and the platform required for AI-powered applications at scale. Through continued innovation and collaboration with Optus, we are advancing connectivity through AI-driven network innovation, helping shape the future of mobile communications and supporting Australia's leadership in next-generation digital and AI technologies," said Mark Atkinson, Head of Radio Networks, Mobile Infrastructure at Nokia.
The companies described the 3.5Gbps peak speed as a record result for a smartphone test device in the upper 6GHz band. They said that level of throughput would be enough to download a two-hour HD film in seconds or support up to 140 simultaneous 4K video streams.
Standards work
Upper 6GHz spectrum has become a focal point in debates over future mobile networks because it sits between lower-frequency bands that provide broader reach and higher-frequency bands that offer large amounts of capacity over shorter distances. That balance has made it a key candidate for 6G planning in a number of markets.
The findings from the Australian trial are set to feed into Optus' broader research and planning work, as well as industry discussions linked to international standards bodies including ITU-R and 3GPP. The tests showed that the upper 6GHz band could support higher-capacity mobile services while maintaining practical coverage characteristics, according to the companies.