$15 million available to boost mobile resilience during disasters

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 08 September 2023

Applications are now open for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP) to strengthen the resilience of mobile services across regional, rural and remote Australia.

Up to $15 million is available to help mitigate the impact of natural disasters on mobile services in our regions – including for remote and First Nations communities.

Resilience upgrades eligible for funding under the MNHP include:

  • upgrading backup power capacity to a minimum of 12 hours at mobile sites;

  • physically elevating infrastructure to protect it from floods;

  • delivering emergency power solutions – like portable power generators – to rapidly restore services during or after a disaster;

  • providing redundant backhaul so that sites have multiple connections to the network in case one goes down; and

  • expanding protection zones around mobile sites to decrease bushfire risk.

While grant funding is available for mobile network operators, infrastructure providers and managers of a telco network, the Government has established a project noticeboard to allow communities to engage with telcos on projects they want to see in their community.

Funding for further rounds of the MHNP was included in the October 2022-23 Federal Budget as part of the Albanese Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

In total, the Albanese Government is investing $2.2 billion in regional communications - the most significant investment in regional communications since the inception of the National Broadband Network.

The MNHP is a key part of the Albanese Government’s comprehensive approach to communications resilience and disaster management, including the $50 million Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation initiative and the $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Initiative.

Applications for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program close on Friday, 17 November 2023.

For more information on the Mobile Network Hardening Program, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/mnhp

Sara Johnston