Is 5G Reliable Enough for Business?
5G promises fast wireless internet, and for personal use, it often delivers. But for business operations where consistent connectivity is not optional, 5G has real limitations worth understanding before making it your primary connection.
This is not about whether 5G is good or bad. It is about understanding where it works, where it falls short, and what that means for a business that depends on its internet to operate.
The Six Problems With 5G for Business
Tower Congestion
Every device on a tower shares bandwidth. Peak hours mean speed drops and unstable connections for your business.
Weather Impact
High-frequency 5G signals weaken in heavy rain, storms, and dense cloud cover. Melbourne weather means variable performance.
Building Barriers
mmWave signals struggle to penetrate walls, windows, and solid structures. Indoor speeds differ greatly from outdoor marketing claims.
Speed Variation
You might get 300Mbps at 6am and 50Mbps at 2pm. Business operations need predictable speeds, not peak theoretical numbers.
Power Vulnerable
5G towers use up to 200% more power than 4G. Extended blackouts can take your business internet with them.
Latency Reality
Low latency marketing claims disappear when content is hosted interstate or overseas. Real-world latency often matches standard fibre.
Experiencing unreliable 5G? We can check what fixed-line options are available at your address.
Understanding Each Problem in Detail
Problem 01
Congestion Is Real and Unavoidable
5G is a shared wireless medium. Every device connected to a tower shares the available bandwidth. When too many devices connect to the same tower during peak hours, speeds drop and connections become unstable.
This is not a theoretical concern. Telstra actively limits how many 5G home internet customers it sells per postcode specifically because congestion degrades performance. Fixed-line connections like fibre and NBN have for greater capacity and are much more resistant to congestion.
For a business running VoIP calls, cloud software, and video conferences simultaneously, congestion-related slowdowns cause choppy calls, dropped connections, and staff sitting idle.
Problem 02
Weather Directly Affects Performance
5G signals, particularly those using higher frequency bands above 26GHz, are weakened by heavy rain, storms, and even dense cloud cover. In Melbourne, where weather changes quickly and often, this means your business internet performance changes with it.
A fibre connection runs underground or through physical cables. It does not care about the weather. The signal strength is the same whether it is 40 degrees and sunny or 10 degrees and pouring.
Problem 03
Physical Barriers Weaken the Signal
5G signals, especially mmWave (the fastest variant), struggle to penetrate buildings, walls, and even windows. Trees and other obstructions between your premises and the nearest tower reduce signal strength and connection quality.
For a business operating from an office building, a warehouse, or any premises with solid walls, this is a practical concern. The speed you see in marketing material and the speed you get inside your building can be very different.
Problem 04
Speeds Are Inconsistent Throughout the Day
5G speeds vary based on how many people are using the tower, the weather, your distance from the tower, and what is between you and it. You might get 300Mbps at 6am and 50Mbps at 2pm when the tower is loaded.
NBN and fibre speeds stay consistent. You get the same performance at 8am as you do at 3pm. For a business that operates during standard hours, predictability matters more than peak theoretical speed.
Problem 05
Power and Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
5G towers consume significantly more power than 4G infrastructure. In some deployments, 5G uses up to 200% more energy. Many towers, particularly in regional areas, rely on battery backup systems that can fail during extended power outages.
If a blackout takes out the local 5G tower, your business internet goes with it. A fibre connection is independent of local tower infrastructure.
Problem 06
Latency Benefits Are Often Lost in Practice
5G marketing highlights low latency, and the technology is capable of it. But latency depends on the entire path between your device and the server, not just the last wireless hop. If the content or service you are accessing is hosted interstate or overseas, the low latency advantage of 5G disappears.
Without local content caching and edge computing (which is still limited in Australia), real-world latency on 5G is often no better than what a solid fibre connection delivers.
Where 5G Actually Makes Sense for Business
5G is not useless. It has a role, just not as your primary business connection:
The Comparison: 5G vs Fibre vs NBN for Business
| Feature | 5G Wireless | Standard NBN | Business Fibre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Consistency | Varies by time, weather, congestion | Generally consistent | Consistent, guaranteed by SLA |
| Upload Speed | Variable, often poor | Limited (20-50 Mbps typical) | Symmetrical (matches download) |
| Weather Impact | Significant, especially mmWave | None (wired) | None (wired) |
| Congestion Risk | High (shared tower) | Moderate (shared infrastructure) | Low (dedicated connection) |
| Uptime Guarantee | None | Best effort | 99.95% SLA |
| VoIP Quality | Unpredictable | Acceptable on FTTP | Reliable and clear |
| Monthly Cost | $50-100/mo typical | From $89/95/mo | From $199/95/mo |
| Installation | Same day (plug in) | Varies by type | 3-5 business days |
| Best For | Backup, mobile teams | Small offices, home offices | Businesses that depend on internet |
The Bottom Line
5G is fast when conditions are right. The problem is that business operations need consistent, not occasional, performance. Your VoIP system does not care that 5G sometimes delivers impressive speed if it drops to 40Mbps during your client call at 2pm on a rainy Tuesday.
For any business where internet is a tool you depend on daily, fibre or a solid NBN connection provides the reliability that wireless cannot guarantee. Use 5G as a backup or for mobile work, not as the foundation your business runs on.
Frequently Asked Questions
We can check what connection types are available at your premises and recommend the right fit. If you are currently relying on 5G and experiencing inconsistent performance, there may be a better option available.