Mobile Network Hardening Program Round 2 – Draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Listen

The department is seeking stakeholder feedback on the draft grant opportunity guidelines for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (the Program).

Why we want your input

We want to make sure that industry, community and government stakeholders are able to have their say on the Draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines (the Guidelines) before they are finalised, and a call for applications is made.

How you can voice your opinion

You can provide feedback on the Guidelines by uploading your submission or emailing us at MBSP@infrastructure.gov.au by 5 pm AEST on Tuesday 30 May 2023.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Your submissions will help us finalise the Guidelines as well as ensure that the Program’s objectives are met. Round 2 of the Program is expected to open for applications in the coming months, following consideration of feedback received during the consultation process.

The Issue

Through the October 2022 Federal Budget, the Australian Government committed $100 million (GST exclusive) to improving communications resilience, including funding for further rounds of the Mobile Network Hardening Program, to reduce the risks of service outages and improve restoration times during natural disasters.

Round 2 of the Program has up to $15 million (GST exclusive) of funding available and its key objectives is to co-fund Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs), or Network Management Providers (NMPs), which are contracted by an MNO, to assist not only with managing and maintaining its network, but also to upgrade mobile network telecommunications infrastructure (Resilience Upgrade) to:

help prevent outages in the event of a Natural Disaster
strengthen the resilience of telecommunications facilities to allow them to operate for longer during bushfires and other Natural Disasters and
enable the rapid restoration of services following an outage.

The deadline to share any feedback regarding Draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines is by 5 pm AEST Tuesday 30 May 2023.