5G has been promised for regional areas for years now. I wanted to cut through the marketing and find out what’s actually available across regional Victoria as of August 2025.

The answer: more than last year, but less than the press releases suggest.

Where 5G Actually Exists

Major Regional Centres

Geelong has comprehensive 5G coverage from all three major networks. Central Ballarat is well covered. Bendigo CBD has solid coverage with some suburban gaps.

These centres now have 5G comparable to Melbourne suburbs. Businesses in central locations can access genuine 5G speeds—typically 300-700 Mbps in real-world use.

Secondary Centres

Shepparton, Warrnambool, Mildura, and Wodonga have partial 5G coverage. Usually central business districts only, with 4G still dominant in surrounding areas.

Horsham, Ararat, and Hamilton have limited or no 5G yet, despite being important regional centres.

Rural Areas

Outside town centres, 5G is essentially non-existent. This hasn’t changed significantly in 2025.

What 5G Actually Means for Business

For businesses with 5G access, the practical benefits include:

Fixed Wireless Alternative: 5G home internet products from Telstra, Optus, and TPG offer genuine alternatives to NBN in areas with coverage. Speeds typically exceed most NBN plans.

Mobile Backup: Businesses can use 5G as backup internet when NBN fails. Fast enough for full business operations, not just emergency email.

Field Operations: Workers in 5G areas can upload large files, participate in video calls, and access cloud systems without office connectivity.

IoT Applications: Some businesses are using 5G for IoT deployments—security cameras, sensor networks, real-time monitoring—where running cables isn’t practical.

The Speed Reality

Marketing claims of multi-gigabit 5G speeds are technically accurate but practically misleading.

Real-world 5G speeds in regional Victoria typically range from 150-500 Mbps. Still impressive—much faster than most NBN connections—but not the 1-2 Gbps the advertising suggests.

Speed varies significantly with location, time of day, and network congestion. Don’t expect consistent peak performance.

Fixed Wireless 5G Products

The most practical 5G application for regional businesses may be fixed wireless services:

Telstra 5G Home Internet: Available in covered areas, typically $85/month for unlimited data. Requires 5G coverage at your address.

Optus 5G Home Broadband: Similar pricing and requirements. Worth checking both for coverage and pricing.

TPG 5G Home Broadband: Usually cheapest but coverage is most limited regionally.

These products work well for businesses frustrated with NBN limitations—if you’re lucky enough to have 5G coverage.

When Will Rural Areas Get 5G?

This is the frustrating part: there’s no clear timeline for rural 5G.

The networks focus investment where population density justifies it. Sparse rural areas won’t see 5G towers for years, if ever.

For rural businesses, the practical path remains:

• Starlink for primary internet
• 4G backup where coverage exists
• Accept that 5G isn’t coming soon

Recommendations

If you’re in a regional centre: Check 5G coverage maps for all three networks. Consider 5G fixed wireless as NBN alternative or backup.

If you’re in a smaller town: Don’t plan around 5G yet. Focus on optimising NBN or Starlink.

If you’re rural: 5G isn’t your solution for the foreseeable future. Starlink has transformed connectivity for properties outside population centres.

The 5G rollout continues, but regional equity remains a work in progress. Businesses in larger centres benefit; those in smaller communities wait.

For those in areas with limited 5G, NBN Co continues fibre upgrades in regional centres, and Regional Development Victoria advocates for improved regional connectivity infrastructure.