Without the usual fanfare, Telstra has begun selling the 4G variant of the popular Samsung Galaxy S II.
![](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/0aa746afdbd4351f383e9b51864e4da367d007a8/hub/2012/03/25/872af4f5-cc2e-11e2-9a4a-0291187b029a/samsung-galaxy-4g_1.jpg?auto=webp&width=644)
(Credit: Samsung)
Available through its online store today, the new Galaxy S II looks much the same as the handset released in Australia by Samsung last year, but with several improvements below the surface. Obviously, the handset is compatible with Telstra’s new 4G network and is capable of real-world download speeds of between 2 and 40Mbps. It also has a faster dual-core 1.5GHz processor, a step up from the 1.2GHz chip in the original release. It also has a slightly larger 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display.
The handset will cost an extra AU$5 per month on top of a Telstra AU$59 Freedom Connect plan.
The Galaxy S II becomes the fifth 4G device in Telstra’s growing next-generation range, and the second smartphone after the HTC Velocity 4G. Telstra last week launched the first 4G Wi-Fi hotspot in the country, giving customers the chance to share their 4G connection with up to five users.