New research reveals that properties with a visible 5G mobile tower lose access to 55% of the potential buyer market at full market value, with nearly one in four Australians (23%) refusing to purchase at any price.

Another 23% demand at least a 5% discount, and a further 9% want smaller discounts under 5%, combining to create the 55% of buyers unwilling to pay full market value. Only 33% of buyers say a visible tower would have no influence on their decision, while 12% view it as a positive feature for better mobile signal.

NSW buyers are the most averse, with 26% ruling out any property near a 5G tower, the highest rate nationally. On Sydney's median house price of $1.75 million, a 5% discount, the most common demand among buyers, translates to $87,500 off the asking price.

Millennials show the strongest overall aversion at 62%, yet older generations are more absolute in their rejection, with 27% of Boomers and Gen X refusing to buy at any price. Gen Z takes a pragmatic approach: only 9% would walk away entirely, but a third would demand at least 5% off, viewing the tower as a negotiating chip.

More towers mean more properties facing buyer resistance. Telstra alone now operates 6,421 5G towers across Australia, with 2025 seeing the highest number of new installations in three years, already up 256% on 2024 figures. There are now 26% more Telstra 5G towers than just one year ago. As the country's largest network operator, Telstra accounts for the majority of 5G infrastructure, and while many towers are for multiple networks, Optus and Vodafone also operate towers, meaning the total number of properties potentially affected is even higher.