As the fifth generation of mobile network standards, 5G technology promises faster network speed and improved capacity in comparison to its predecessors, 4G and 3G. It is being currently rolled out in Australia, and the technology has been available for consumers to access since mid-2019.

While there are suggestions that 5G, in its full implementation, will revolutionise mobile communication, there is not much information available about consumer adoption and take-up beyond high-level survey data.

To address this, the authors of this paper present findings from six online group discussions conducted with 5G consumers living in Melbourne and rural or regional Victoria. The group discussions ran for 1.5 hours. Each group contained 5-6 consumers. These consumers were located in inner urban, urban, suburban, and regional settings.

The findings highlight the necessity of continued investment in 5G infrastructures to support and expand levels of coverage and connectivity. This was particularly emphasised by consumers in the regional focus groups, who reported notable deficits in coverage and reliability.