The new network promises three times the speed of the existing network, peaking at 14.4Mbps for downloads, Telstra announced today.
The trial, claimed to be a world-first by the company, will begin in rural Victoria this week and will help prepare the Next G network for expected boosts in customer demand for data rich applications and content services like pay TV on mobiles.
Telstra's Next G claims to provide network download speeds averaging 550kbps to 1.5Mbps, and peak network speeds of up to 3.6Mbps.
The Next G core network will be upgraded with the most advanced version of Ericsson's software enabling it to operate at 14.4 Mbps peak network speeds and increased peak network uplink speeds from the current 384 Kbps to 1.8 Mbps.
This 'turbo-charged' HSDPA is known as High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).
The faster peak network speeds will give customers increased average user speeds and provide more cell and traffic capacity on the 3G network which claims to already service 98 per cent of the Australian population.
Executive managing director of Telstra Wireless, John Gonner, said the field tests will reinforce the global leadership position Telstra has created with the early launch of its super fast Next G network.
"We have broken the distance barrier with the world's geographically largest national 3G network," Gonner said. "We are now in the advanced stage of preparations to be the first to offer our customers even faster, double digit data speeds."
Telstra and Ericsson are using Qualcomm's latest chipsets to test various radio environments and high data speeds to verify throughput and reliability.