The Albanese Government is delivering $40.9 million to upgrade mobile coverage for communities on the fringe of major urban and regional cities who are prone to natural disasters.
Delivered through Round 2 of the Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP), funding has been awarded to mobile carriers and tower companies for 47 projects that will deliver new or upgraded mobile phone infrastructure targeting mobile coverage and reception issues.
The 47 projects are expected to provide hundreds of square kilometres of 4G and 5G new improved coverage to communities in Adelaide, Ballarat, Bendigo, Brisbane, Cairns, Central Coast (NSW), Darwin, Geelong, Gold Coast/Tweed Heads, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, Toowoomba, Townsville and Wollongong to around 80,000 premises.
The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the suburbs. These areas have been historically underserved because of the high cost of deploying infrastructure, difficult terrain, planning challenges and lower population densities.
Natural disasters across Australia have highlighted the need for more reliable mobile services during emergencies, which the Government is delivering.
Co-contributions of $43 million are being made towards these projects by the telco industry and the Queensland Government, highlighting the collaborative approach to delivering better coverage for Australians.
Two mobile carriers will share infrastructure at nine sites, improving both coverage and choice for consumers, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth's investment. The remaining 38 projects will be required to offer co-location to interested mobile carriers, where technically feasible, to support potential multi-carrier outcomes at these sites in the future.
Funding has been awarded for projects in 17 of the 19 cities eligible under Round 2 of PUMP, following a competitive, merit-based grant process.
In a win for communities, and based on Departmental recommendations, the Government will bring forward funding earmarked for a future round of PUMP to support a larger number of Round 2 projects now.
The PUMP complements other Albanese Government initiatives to improve telecommunications services across Australia, through its $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.
