Telstra Regional General Manager Steve Tinker said the company switched on the area's first Telstra 5G base stations on Wednesday.

The provider has been planning the works for about 12 months, with the upgrade set to increase download speeds and mobile capacity in crowded settings.

"We have been building the network for a number of weeks now across Warrnambool, gradually that's getting switched on," Mr Tinker said.

"In the immediate time if you have a 5G capable phone, you will see the 5G symbol come up on that device."

He said the service would also benefit 4G customers, particularly during busy periods.

"Over time the 5G has a fantastic ability for managing capacity, like in Warnrambool in summer when lots of people visit it will help with the 4G capacity as well," Mr Tinker said.

He said Warrnambool was among the first regional cities in Australia to receive the upgrade, with Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong also now on the network.

Mr Tinker said Telstra expected to complete Warrnambool's 5G upgrades by February.

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