Mobile Black Spot Program

The Mobile Black Spot Program (the MBSP) is a Government initiative that invests in telecommunications infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and competition across Australia.

Under the MBSP to date (Rounds 1 to 7), the Australian Government's commitment has generated a total investment of more than $1 billion, to deliver up to 1,400 new mobile base stations across Australia.

Rounds 1 to 7 have been supported by co-contributions from a range of third parties including state and local governments, national Mobile Network Operators (Optus, Telstra, TPG Telecom Ltd (formerly Vodafone), and Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (Field Solutions Group and OneWiFi).

Funding for new rounds of the MBSP was provided in the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, through the 2022–23 Budget.

For more information about the MBSP, including information on how the locations of base stations were selected, see the Mobile Black Spot Program's FAQs page.

Round 8

The Government is providing up to $55 million (GST exclusive) under Round 8 to co-fund projects with mobile carriers and tower companies that deliver new and improved mobile coverage and competition in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia that are prone to Natural Disasters, including bushfires, cyclones and floods.

The focus on areas impacted by, or at risk of, Natural Disasters reflects the increasing exposure of many regions to these events, and the need for communities to access resilient mobile communications services during and after these events. Eligible areas can be viewed on the MBSP Round 8 - Eligibility Map and the National Map.

Round 8 of the MBSP is expected to open in late 2024.

This round is funded under the Government's Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

Project Noticeboard

A Project Noticeboard for Round 8 is now available for local governments and state, territory and federal parliamentarians to identify potential projects or locations which would benefit from new and improved coverage.

Industry applicants will be encouraged to consider the proposed projects and locations on the Project Noticeboard when developing their applications.

It is important to note that posting on the Project Noticeboard does not guarantee that an application for funding for a project, or a project in the nominated location, will be submitted, or that funding will be allocated to the proposed project or location. However, it can help communities advise the industry of risks in regional, rural and remote Australia, and demonstrate support for new proposals.

The Round 8 Project Noticeboard will close three weeks after applications for Round 8 open. This will allow industry applicants time to consider advice provided through the Noticeboard and to engage with other applicants on the development of proposals.

Improving Mobile Coverage Round

Stage 2

On 31 July 2024, the Government opened Stage 2 of the Improving Mobile Coverage Round (IMCR) of the MBSP to applications. Up to $3.047 million (GST inclusive) is available under Stage 2 of the IMCR to fund the delivery of solutions to implement the Government's commitments to improve mobile coverage and quality of service at the two Target Locations of Majors Creek, NSW, and Mangrove Mountain, NSW.

Stage 2 asks Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs) to propose solutions that deliver New Handheld Coverage to the two locations. Applications closed on 25 September 2024 and are being assessed against the published Grant Opportunity Guidelines, which are available on the GrantConnect website.

Stage 1

On 19 October 2023, the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, announced grants totalling $37.2 million (GST exclusive) to deliver improved mobile coverage and quality of service to 42 Target Locations through the IMCR. An additional four Target Locations are expected to receive improved mobile coverage from existing projects under other regional communications grant programs and commercial investment.

The IMCR is implementing the Government's commitments to improve mobile coverage and quality of service at 54 Target Locations across rural, regional and remote Australia.

Stage 1 used a competitive merit-based grants process to award funding, in accordance with the public Grant Opportunity Guidelines published on the Grant Connect website.

Unfortunately, the IMCR did not result in outcomes for 12 Target Locations:

  • five locations did not receive applications;
  • four locations received applications which were assessed by the department as not delivering value for money; and
  • three locations received applications that the department assessed did not satisfy the technical coverage or solution requirements of the Guidelines.

Four of these locations are expected to receive coverage improvements from projects previously funded under the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) and Peri‑Urban Mobile Program (PUMP), or through commercial solutions.

Following consideration of options to further test industry solutions at two of the unsuccessful Target Locations (Majors Creek and Mangrove Mountain), where there is a reasonable prospect that a value for money solution may exist, the department is implementing Stage 2 of the IMCR.

Six Target Locations (Breera Brand Highway, Carwoola, Queenstown, Wee Jasper, Monaro Highway and Herne Hill) are not being progressed further through the IMCR as there is a low chance of success at this time, noting the option for mobile carriers and infrastructure providers to submit applications in future competitive grant rounds, including the MBSP, RCP and Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP).

Stage 1 of the IMCR was audited by the Australian National Audit Office during 2023-24 and the department was found to be largely effective in the design and award of funding.

Round 7

On 11 December 2023, the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, announced the outcomes of the combined grant opportunity for Round 7 of the MBSP and Round 3 of the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) with $170.2 million (GST inclusive) in funding awarded for a total of 136 mobile and broadband solutions across Australia.

As part of this announcement, the Minister awarded $55 million (GST inclusive) through Round 7 of the MBSP to deliver 62 new mobile solutions. This includes:

  • $41.3 million to deliver 43 new base stations across Australia; and
  • $13.6 million will be provided for 19 new base stations located in First Nations communities, delivering on the Government's commitment to improving digital connectivity in First Nations communities.

The new mobile base stations will deliver new and improved mobile coverage to these communities and will also improve highway coverage. The Round will also fund 25 new OneWiFi neutral host base stations that will support multi-carrier outcomes. Optus will offer services from these base stations. The rollout schedule will be published on the carriers' websites once the contracts have been executed.

The combined round used a competitive merit-based grants process to award funding, in accordance with the public Grant Opportunity Guidelines published on the Grant Connect website.

This round is funded under the Government's Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

MBSP rollout update—August 2024

The MBSP is delivering improved coverage outcomes and benefits to the Australian community with over 1,143 base stations activated as at 31 August 2024.

Base stations funded under Rounds 1-5A are currently scheduled to be operational by late 2024/early 2025.

Information about the expected timing for individual base stations can be found on the websites of Field Solutions Group, OneWiFi, Optus, Telstra and TPG Telecom Ltd (formerly Vodafone).

Base station delays

Due to a range of external factors outside of the direct control of the mobile network operators, some base stations have experienced delays and require additional time in order to be delivered.

Additional information on delays can be found on the Mobile Black Spot Program's FAQs page.

Base stations that are no longer required or cannot be built

Under the MBSP there are a small number of planned base stations that cannot be built at the original scheduled location. In these cases, the mobile network operator will explore all options to deliver new and improved coverage to the original planned area including investigating alternative sites.

There are also a small number of base stations that are no longer required to be built as coverage is now being delivered by one or more base stations nearby. In these cases, the funding for the original base station has been used to fund an alternative site.

Further information, including a list of alternative sites and a list of base stations that will no longer be built under the MBSP, is available on the Mobile Black Spot Program's FAQs page.

Contacts

Email: mobilecoverage@communications.gov.au

Mobile Black Spot Program
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601

Additional information and resources

Round 1

Round 2

Priority Locations Round (Round 3)

Round 4

Round 5

Round 5A

Improving Mobile Coverage Round Stage 1

Improving Mobile Coverage Round Stage 2

Round 7

DITRDCA navigation