SUPERFAST mobile internet has arrived in Perth with Telstra today switching on its first 5G-enabled base station.

Telstra customers living or working near the Narrows Bridge will now have access to internet speeds up to 20gigabits per second through their mobile data plans.

That is 200 times faster than the best available NBN plans, which currently boast a maximum speed of 100 megabits per second.

Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said 5G had the potential to transform the way Australians live and work.

“Not only will 5G be faster, but it will have more capacity than 4G and will deliver an improved customer experience,” he said.

Camera Icon The 5G network being installed.

“5G is the first network designed to connect things other than mobile phones. Connected cars for autonomous driving and all sorts of other devices and sensors will be connected.

“It is a pretty exciting day for our teams in Perth and for Perth generally because this is one of only 50 (5G-enabled base stations) in the country and makes (Perth) one of the first cities in the world to have 5G.”

Ultra high-definition streaming and remote surgery are two other possible uses for the 5G network.

Telstra today also announced it had partnered with Swedish multinational Ericsson to complete its rollout of 5G technology across Australia.

In February, Telstra launched a 5G Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast supported by Ericsson.

That centre has since been home to several world and Australian firsts including the world’s first precinct of 5G-enabled WiFi hotspots and Australia’s first 5G connected car.

Telstra will spend $5 billion on its 5G rollout over the three years to June 2019.