NSW Government announces $250 million investment to boost mobile reception

Monday, 27 February 2023 22:34

NSW Government announces $250 million investment to boost mobile reception

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $250 million to boost mobile reception in the bush in small communities, tourism hotspots, and along key transport corridors, it announced.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the program would drive better coverage and better choice in the regions.

While there are more than 120 mobile towers across regional NSW to boost coverage in blackspot areas, Toole acknowledged “there’s more to do.”

“Our $250 million investment in this program shifts away from traditional ‘one tower, one provider’ model thinking in favour of a nation-leading approach to deliver shared infrastructure available for use by all carriers.”

Toole claimed the investment will drive better competition and better choices for consumers.

Toole claimed this is the first program of its kind in Australia, pointing out that this is “further evidence of the future-focused approached that the NSW Liberal are taking in government.”

The new program will target three key areas:
1. Small regional communities with little to no existing coverage;
2. Key transport corridors, where a boost to coverage can help drive increased productivity and improved safety; and
3. Visitor economies where major events draw large crowds.

Toole said events like the Mundi Mundi Bash at Broken Hill and Deni Ute Muster attract thousands of visitors.

“We want to ensure those visitors stay connected and can share their experiences with friends all over the world in real-time,” Toole said.

“This program will focus on ensuring these visitor economies are better connected to meet event needs all year-round.”

“This program will put a focus on filling those gaps. Applications for the program will open from May,” Toole added.

The funding will be delivered through multi-carrier partnerships through the OneWiFi and Pivotel neutral host towers for Brewarrina and Wilcannia.

“Under this type of model, we’re bridging the digital divide to provide regional customers more choice than ever,” said OneWifi managing director Mevan Jayatilleke said.

“We’ve worked hard to develop alternative commercial and technical sharing models through the active sharing program and are proud to be the first mobile network operator in this innovative investment by the NSW Government,” Pivotel CEO Peter Bolger said.

Telco challenger alliance Commpete has welcomed the pledge, which it describes as “setting the future stage for leading telecommunications in regional NSW.”

“This goes beyond delivering baseline connectivity to priority areas, but also sets a foundation which is solid groundwork for digital growth and increased choice. This levels what metropolitan cities and many overseas counterparts may take for granted as they go about their daily lives,” commented Commpete chair Michelle Lim.

Lim said the initiatives are “leading edge and embrace the next era of innovation in mobile infrastructure deployment and open access regimes.”

“In Commpete’s view, this will bolster choice and opportunity for new service-based offerings and verticals, and leverage the experience and expertise of a broad range of new, emerging and established industry participants.”

“We recognise the longstanding resolve to invest in program design which combines both new access to mobile connectivity, while embedding government policy and requirements. This allows for the long-term strategic delivery of pro-competitive outcomes to benefit all Australians for a bright, economic and digitally advanced future,” Lim concluded.

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