Telstra’s New 4G LTE Router Boasts 1Gbps Download Speeds

Telstra is now capable of delivering 1Gpbs download and 150Mbps upload speeds over its 4G LTE network. It has teamed up with Netgear to launch a new mobile router, the Nighthawk M1, to let customers tap into those speeds. Here are the details and the specs for the world’s first gigabit LTE mobile router.

We already knew that Telstra teamed up with Ericsson, Qualcomm and Netgear to develop a commercial gigabit LTE network late last year. Now we know that Telstra has officially launched part of the network in selected Australian capital city CBDs. We can’t confirm the locations just yet but it’s safe to say one of them is Sydney’s CBD.

Telstra and Netgear have also jointly launched the Nighthawk M1, the world’s first gigabit LTE router that will allow users to get download speeds of up to 1Gbps. Upload speeds are up to 150Mbps. Bear in mind that actual speeds you will get will depend on a number of factors including network availability and conditions. Of course, you’ll need to be in an area that is covered by Telstra’s gigabit LTE network to get the best speeds. You’re more likely to get between 5Mbps and 300Mbps download speeds in Telstra 4GX coverage areas, but that’s still pretty damn fast.

Here are the specs for the Nighthawk M1:

• Supports up to 20 wireless devices on a single connection
• Supports LTE CAT 16, LTE Advanced 4-band CA, 4×4 MIMO
• Up to 4X carrier aggregation
• Supports simultaneous dual band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz) for increased network performance
• Supports LTE/4G 700/900/1800/2100/2600MHz bands
• WiFi/Ethernet offloading capabilities
• 1 x Ethernet port and 2 x USB ports (Type A and C)
• Uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE chipset
• Can be used to stream media from microSD, USB or external hard drive through the USB ports to connected devices
• Dimensions: 105.5 (L) x 105.5 (W) x 20.35 (H) mm
• Weight: 240 g (with battery)
• Battery: 5040mAh for up to 24 hours of use

The Nighthawk M1 will be available through Telstra from next month for $360 outright. You can also get it as part of a range of Telstra mobile broadband plans.

Earlier today, it was revealed that a number of consumer-grade Netgear home routers were found to have another serious security vulnerability. This follows the critical vulnerability that was discovered on a large number of Netgear routers late last year. Firmware updates are now available.