The Australian Government’s Alternative Voice Services Trials Program took a step further today, with NBN Co, Concerotel and Zetifi announced as the first to receive funding.
The trials are aiming to find better ways of delivering voice services in regional and remote Australia.
NBN Co will deliver up to 260 trial voice services across Australia, including across its fixed wireless and satellite networks as well as trialling a low band fixed wireless solution.
Concerotel will deliver up to 200 trial voice services in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island, providing better VOIP services to mobile phones reliant on satellite links.
Zetifi will deliver up to 50 trial voice services to provide improved Wi-Fi calling for farms in rural and remote areas of New South Wales and northern Victoria that currently experience poor mobile coverage.
Some trials will include antennas or battery back up at homes as part of the trial service, intended to provide a more robust service with better in-home call quality.
The Government is also finalising grant agreements with other shortlisted applicants and expects to make further announcements about other successful projects shortly.
Those who are interested in participating in the Trials can register their interest now.
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