Netgear who have been remarkably quiet on the new product front of late, is set to jump into the 5G router market with a new Orbi that is specifically designed for over the air 5G communication.
Basically, it’s similar to the Companies Orbi Tri-band WiFi 6 mesh system, with a slot now built in for a 5G sim card.
When it will be released in Australia or the price of the new router is not known but being a Netgear product, expect to pay a premium price for this new piece of kit.
D link is expected to launch a similar product next year at a lower price.
Accessing 5G data networks via a Tri-Band mesh network should give users access to fast Internet speeds with ultra-low latency and virtually no downtime.
However, many regions in Australia are struggling to get good 5G speeds. I was in Nelson Bay where there is supposed to be a 5G service, while I got an indication on my mobile of a 5G signal the speed was less than 40mbs.
The new Orbi NBK752 mesh system can work as an always-on broadband service, using 5G as the primary Internet connection or it can work as a “failover” backup service for a traditional wired Internet service.
The Netgear offering will also be a good solution for temporary working sites such as a construction manager’s office or somewhere where wired Internet services aren’t required all year-round or on a long-term basis.
The mesh system can blanket a home of up 480 square metres with a WiFi 6 wireless system. Whether it’s sited in a brick townhouse or a sprawling rural retreat, the system can cover a large area straight out of the box. For extra-large properties, additional Orbi satellites can be added to fill wireless dead spots.
The Netgear Orbi 5G WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752) is available as a two-pack consisting of the router and one satellite.
US pricing is over $1,500 so expect to pay close to $2K for this device.
