Round 8 of the Mobile Black Spot Program

Overview

This opportunity is part of the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia (Better Connectivity Plan) which is providing more than $1.1 billion to rural and regional communities. Through the October 2022 Budget, the Government provided $656 million for the Better Connectivity Plan to improve mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in rural and regional Australia. Up to $55 million (GST exclusive) is available for Round 8 to fund deployment of new or upgraded mobile phone infrastructure that will provide resilient mobile coverage in regional and remote areas prone to Natural Disasters, to assist during times of emergency.   This grant will deliver resilient new and improved mobile coverage and competition in areas prone to Natural Disasters, including bushfires, cyclones and floods, by co-funding with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)  and Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs) to deliver new or upgraded telecommunications infrastructure. The grant opportunity will be administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA). Infrastructure funded must deliver the mobile coverage outcomes to regional and remote communities for an operational period of 10 years. To assist collaboration between local communities and the telecommunications industry, the Government has launched an online project noticeboard which enables local governments and state, territory and federal parliamentarians to identify potential projects or locations which would benefit from new and improved coverage. Industry applicants are encouraged to consider the proposed projects and locations on the Project Noticeboard when developing their applications.