Telstra 5G Home Internet Not Available in My Area - OK to Use Different Address?

From looking at Telstra's 5G Home internet offering, Link it will not accept my address to sign up even though 5G on Telstra does exist in my area and i get around 300-340mbps fairly frequently. Entering in an address belonging to someone else in my family a few suburbs away results in my being able to proceed with the purchase of a 5G Home internet plan as usual. The question is; will there be any problems down the line with regards to my service being cut off, etc, etc, if Telstra somehow realises that the router is being used in a different location than stated or is this a non-issue?

Can anyone with experience in this sort of matter (or Telstra rep) please chime in here? Thanks.

(I am currently hotspotting from a Moto Edge 5G 2020 phone and while provides good performance in my room, it drops off quickly outside, plus I have just recently had the battery replaced under warranty due to it swelling from being plugged in all the time (what can you do i guess), so i am looking for a more permanent and better solution).

Please do not comment if you don't have anything constructive to add and no NBN is not feasible for me. I am no expert and I'm just seeking advice here.

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Comments

  • +6

    @supasaiyan

    • +4

      Nice neg (removed Inflammatory). Supasaiyan works for Telstra and can likely help.

    • +1

      Have an up-vote to remove the neg.

  • Why don't you just give them a call? Always safer to get it sorted with your correct info imo

    • +3

      If he calls with this scenario, they will say “No”

    • +1

      I posted here to see if any customers actually do this because I knew Telstra would likely say no.

  • +3

    @ChineseElectronics check your pm

  • Carriers are in the business of selling services. Why would they deny you one without some reason? Isn't the answer that carriers put 5G data services on a band of their own so they can guarantee a minimum speed by limiting the number of data services in that cell. So if you sign up to a 5G service in one area, and use it in another, that cell tower may not have a transmitter that operates in that band so you may get no data service, or you may get a degraded service because there are too many data services in that area. How fast a service phones get in a cell doesn't tell you what data services will get because they don't share the same band.

    Or is that just a technically plausible sounding myth?

    • Its Telstra we are talking about they have billing systems that are stuck in the 1990s. You can't even re-locate a Voip Number with Telstra because it needs to stay in the local zone. So if you or your business moves a few suburbs over you are screwed. Unless you change providers.
      They have done the same thing with these 5G mobile plans which defeats the purpose a bit as the entire point is that they should be able to be moved around as 5G is portable.
      What I would suggest doing is just buy a 5G broadband service from a reseller that way you can use it anywhere that 5G is available.
      Just get a Sim only plan and grab a router to chuck it in if you really want to do things on the cheap.

  • +2

    Quoted from their CIS -

    Geolocking

    The 5G Home Internet Plan includes a Telstra 5G Home Modem which is a fixed modem device. You may only use your modem at the home address you provided when you took up this plan. If you move your modem outside your home area your download speeds will be capped at a maximum of 1.5Mbps.

    If you move home, you may no longer be eligible for the Telstra 5G Home Internet Plan. If you intend to move, please contact us to discuss whether your plan can be moved with you. If it can’t be, it will be cancelled and you will need to return your modem.

    So if 1.5 Mbps is ok for you, go ahead.

  • +6

    Interesting question. Would like to know without it being a secret shared only in PM’s.

  • -1

    Just a thought.
    1. Sign up using your family members residential address
    2. After you've received the modem and the plan is active, apply for a change of address to your residential address
    3. Profit?

  • I signed up for Telstra 5G home internet in recent months. I live in Bendigo and according to the Telstra coverage map I am in the 5G coverage area (on the edge but well and truly in the coverage area). However I have only been able to provide one place in the house (on a window sill of a big window) where the modem can connect to 5G (have also added a couple of screw in antennas to the ports in the back). The modem has lights to indicate if it is connected to 5G or 4G and signal quality. Peak times seem to be very difficult to have all green lights displayed on the modem (i.e. 5G connection and optimum signal quality). At the best speeds have been between 300 and 350, although often 1/2 to 1/3 of that. I frequently test my connection and I have never had good enough speed (ping) for online gaming. Streaming quality good for video (although do not run ultra high quality as chews through the data and 1TB goes very quickly). Have had drop outs at times that requires resetting of Netflix when video can freeze. All in all my advice would be that your address does not come up, you may really struggle to get adequate coverage. My wife's phone is Telstra 5G enabled and coverage in the house seems good (without the need to stand on one foot, arm up and phone out a window). Also note what @Kib33 has quoted from their CIS.

    • if you can log into the modem, and go to the mobile tab, there's a RSRP, RSRQ and RSSI. They should be between -50 to -110, anything outside of that, you might have issues

    • Speak with rfshop.com.au or telcoantennas.com.au. Example of some Telstra 5G discussions https://youtu.be/FTmlyI-sYpU?t=137

    • You need an external antenna installed. If you want a professional install you will be looking at $6000 but this will fix your issue as extra equipment is installed in the home which boosts the signal.

  • Hey @ChineseElectronics, I'd love to know what you found in your DMs?

  • Telstra know which towers you can possibly connect to from your stated address. These towers will allow your modem id or ip address to connect which is a unique one. If you use the modem at your home which was not the original given address you will still connect to other Telstra towers but only at a slowed speed. It’s up to you but you can’t complain about not getting 5g at some address that’s not nearby. I get 800 mb/sec on my Telstra service through my iPhone but Telstra won’t let me connect to 5g home.

    • Thing is Telstra say you can't get the 5G home Broadband in areas that have definitely been enabled for 5G.So they are selective in the areas where they allow you to purchase the product. Instead of just upselling external antennas for bettter coverage which they could do.

  • I hope my home can get this soon after hearing about the NBN fixed wireless caps they are bringing in

  • Yes u can. I done it for few months

  • I'm going through this pain as well. Need a service in the Melbourne CBD, cannot sign up at any CBD address. If Telstra can't offer 5G in the city, they may as well shut up shop.

    • You should be able to get 5G in the CBD no worries at all.
      If Telstra retail aren't helping with this talk to a reseller.

  • I have had 5G coverage, with consistently excellent speeds at my addres for around 4 years now, and in fact Telstra's own coverage map indicates clearly that there is coverage at my address, and for many kilometres beyond in all directions. It's not flaky, or iffy, or barely covered, it's blanket coverage in my area and as I said, it has been for years, however, like others in this thread, Telstra claim they cannot provide this service as there is no coverage, or insufficient speeds at my address. This is not only false, but contradicts Telstra's own coverage maps. I lodged a formal complaint with Telstra, and asked them to provide a valid, scientific reason as to why the service would not work at my address. Naturally, this was a complete waste of time, as they simply re-stated what was on the website. As GordonD said - "Carriers are in the business of selling services. Why would they deny you one without some reason?" Yes… Exactly. What the hell is going on ? Why are they witholding a product that I already know I can use at my address ? And why wont they provide a valid reason ? It's borderline fraud, and I have reported the matter to the TIO to investigate. In the meantime, I suggest anyone thinking of signing up to this service of pure unobtainium should forget about it, and sign up to Starlink instead. It's available everywhere, it works reliably, and it's already faster that 5G home internet. I thought the upfront cost, while justified, a little expensive, but I've already wasted enough of my time to now justify the cost.

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