Optus and Nokia hit 3.5Gbps in Sydney 6G spectrum trial

This trial provides critical evidence that the upper 6GHz band is a viable 'mid-band' candidate for 6G, balancing high capacity with manageable propagation. For the streaming industry, 3.5Gbps throughput enables roughly 140 simultaneous 4K streams from a single site, addressing the bandwidth crunch expected from emerging immersive video and AI applications. Most importantly, the coverage results suggest that 6G might not require the massive, costly densification typical of millimeter-wave deployments, potentially speeding up the rollout of high-capacity networks. Watch for the 3GPP meeting in September 2026 for further decisions on 6G migration architectures.

The Optus trial aligns with global momentum following the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), where governments agreed to identify the upper 6GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT). According to the GSMA in December 2025, this band is now harmonized across a footprint representing over 80% of the global population. The industry group projects that urban areas will require an additional 2-3 GHz of mid-band spectrum by 2035 to support next-generation data traffic. While some regions like the U.S. have historically favored unlicensed use (Wi-Fi) for the full 6GHz band, countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and several in the Asia-Pacific are moving to license the upper portion specifically for mobile evolution. Technical progress is accelerating as the 3GPP formalizes 6G timelines. Per Ericsson and Informa reporting in June 2026, 3GPP finalized the schedule for Release 21, which will contain the first set of normative 6G specifications. This release is expected to freeze by December 2028, setting the stage for the first commercial 6G systems to emerge around 2030. Nokia’s involvement in the Sydney trial mirrors its previous work with Telia in June 2024, where the vendor similarly tested 5G-Advanced and 6G capabilities in the upper 6GHz range to prove macro-grid readiness. These trials are essential for hardware and chipset manufacturers like MediaTek, which must finalize modem designs years before 6G-capable smartphones reach consumers. Recent industry efforts have also seen 3GPP approve 161 6G use cases to further define the requirements for immersive XR and sensing applications.