The Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP) is a government initiative to strengthen the resilience of Australia's mobile network telecommunications infrastructure in regional, remote and peri-urban Australia, to reduce the risk of service outages and improve restoration times during and after a natural disaster.
The MNHP co-funds projects with mobile carriers and tower companies to deliver resilience improvements like portable generators, power back-up power equipment upgrades and physical mobile tower hardening.
Applications for grants under Round 3 of the program are now open, with Grant Opportunity Guidelines available on GrantConnect. Applications close at 5PM AEDT Friday, 20 December 2024.
A Project Noticeboard, allowing communities to provide advice on potential projects or locations is available via the department's website, and will remain open until one week before the closing date for applications.
The program is part of the Australian Government's $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia. Rounds 1 and 2 of the MNHP are funding approximately 1,386 projects nationwide, with 896 already complete.
