Locals to provide advice on $20m investment under Mobile Network Hardening Program

A Project Noticeboard is now open to assist communities to identify potential projects or locations for funding.

Under Round 3 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP), the Australian Government is investing $20 million in resilience upgrade projects located in areas impacted by, or at risk of, a natural disaster. Funding is available for projects in regional and remote Australia and for the first time, in the peri-urban fringe of 19 capital and major regional cities, meaning more Australians will have access to resilient mobile telecommunications services during and after a natural disaster.

The Project Noticeboard allows local councils and state, territory and federal parliamentarians to identify potential projects or locations suitable for funding under Round 3, with telco industry applicants encouraged to review these submissions when preparing their applications.  Individuals and community organisations should work with local councils and parliamentarians to identify potential projects.

Round 3 of the MNHP will open for applications in the coming weeks, and the Project Noticeboard will remain open until one week before the closing date for applications.

Projects funded under the program will deliver resilience upgrades like portable generators, back-up power upgrades and physical mobile tower hardening. 

Round 3 will build on the successful outcomes of Round 1 and 2, which have seen over 1,385 projects funded and 911 projects completed to date. 

The MNHP is part of the Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

Find out more