Alternative Voice Services Trials Program

Overview

The Alternative Voice Services Trials (AVST) program will provide grants to organisations to trial alternative ways to deliver voice services in rural and remote areas of Australia inside NBN Co’s fixed wireless and satellite footprints, including those areas serviced by Telstra’s high capacity radio concentrator (HCRC) networks.   The objective of the trials is to identify new ways to deliver voice services, including by new providers, and assess their effectiveness. The trials respond to concerns about existing voice solutions and the potential for alternative technologies to provide better services and functionality. The trials were announced as part of the Government’s response to the 2018 Regional Telecommunications Review. The trials are a component of the Regional Connectivity Program which is part of the Stronger Regional Digital Connectivity Package.