Organisations committed to solving critical connectivity issues will receive $3.5 million in funding as part of NSW Telco Authority's Next Generation Digital Connectivity initiative.
The initiative aims to provide connectivity to recovery assistance points for people affected by disasters, enhance technology and keep communities connected.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the NSW Government was partnering with a select number of businesses to trial a range of different connectivity solutions for emergency services, government agencies and the community.
"Digital connectivity is essential to everyday life, whether it's emergency services able to communicate during a bushfire, or a person in a remote community able to contact a loved one anywhere in the world," Mr Dominello said.
"Thanks to the collaboration created through these trials, the Government will drive innovative solutions and create ground-breaking projects that could shape the future of connectivity.
"The Next Generation Digital Connectivity trials are the building blocks for potentially bigger future projects, whose scopes could reach across the Government."
Mr Dominello said there was no one-size fits all solution to the connectivity challenges currently faced by NSW businesses and citizens and investment in evolving technology was crucial to deliver seamless connectivity.
"The funding will enable partnerships with industry and government agencies to leverage their resources, skills and knowledge to create ground-breaking solutions that will drive the future of connectivity," Mr Dominello said.
The initiative will include trials with the NSW Rural Fire Service, Service NSW, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the NSW Reconstruction Authority who will work with industry partners to find real-world solutions for specific connectivity challenges.
Following a request for proposals in September 2022, NSW Telco Authority determined proposals by Wireless Innovations, Av-Comm, Vocus, Optus, and Field Solutions Group were best suited to work with the NSW Government to conduct trials to better understand how to solve state-wide connectivity challenges.
Findings from the trials are expected to be published in mid-2023.
