Current Grant Opportunity View - GO7409

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.

Applicants must:

·         have an Australian Business Number (ABN)

·         be one of the following entity types:

• a National Mobile Network Operator (MNO); or
• a  Mobile Network Infrastructure Provider (MNIP).

All Funded Solutions must provide retail mobile services for a minimum period of ten (10) years after the grantee’s Asset(s) has (have) become operational.

$55,000,000.00

Options for lodgement include GovTeams, email, mail and/or hand-delivery. Further details on each option are available at section 7.5 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

Applicants intending to apply must contact the Department to register as a potential applicant by the closing date and time in Table 1 (Expected Timing).

Full requirements for applications, including how Proposed Solutions will be assessed are detailed in the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.