Archived Grant Opportunity View - GO5331

The Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP) will deliver funding to improve mobile connectivity in bushfire priority areas along the edges of Australia's major cities. The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the edges of the suburbs, creating bushfire risks for those living and working in those areas.

Up to $15 million (GST exclusive) is available for PUMP.

PUMP will provide grant funding to mobile network operators and infrastructure providers to deploy new mobile phone infrastructure to address mobile reception and coverage issues in peri-urban areas.

Funded solutions will improve connectivity and safety in bushfire-prone areas, help get businesses and people living in and visiting these areas online, lifting productivity, local digital capability and investment.

To be eligible for funding under PUMP, an applicant must be a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) or a Mobile Network Infrastructure Provider (MNIP), that has signed a non-disclosure agreement and (where relevant) has supplied the required network information in accordance with the Grant Guidelines.

A MNO means a company, other than a Mobile Network Infrastructure Provider, that supplies a public mobile telecommunications service within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1997; and holds an apparatus or a spectrum licence (or both) for the supply of public mobile telecommunications services under the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

A MNIP means a company, other than a MNO, that provides communications infrastructure in Australia or overseas, including the installation and operation of infrastructure to be used by one or more MNOs to provide public mobile telecommunications services. MNIP applications must be accompanied by written evidence of intent from at least one MNO to enter into a commercially binding commitment to use the infrastructure to deliver mobile services as described at section 4.2 of the Grant Guidelines for the Operational Period of the Proposed Solution. A grant may be awarded to eligible MNIPs on the condition that the MNIP and relevant MNO enter into a binding commercial commitment prior to the finalisation of the Grant Agreement.

Stage 1 – Release of the Guidelines and call for applications commences 14 December 2021.

Stage 2 – Potential applicants need to register their interest by 18 January 2022, and provide pre-application documentation, in accordance with section 7, Stage 2 of the Guidelines.

Stage 3 – Initial proposal period – Initial proposals due by 18 January 2022.

Stage 4 – Applications are due by 18 February 2022.

Stage 5 – Applications are assessed between February 2022 and March 2022.

Stage 6 – Grantees advised of outcomes and locations announced March 2022.

Stage 7 – Negotiation of Grant Agreements will occur in March 2022.

Stage 8 – Grantees will notify other mobile network operators of the ability to negotiate co-location arrangements from April 2022.

Stage 9 – Rollout completion is expected by 30 June 2024.

$15,000,000.00

Applicants must register interest with the Department (Guidelines Section 7, Stage 2) and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before gaining access to the Application pack.

Where applicable, each applicant must submit geospatial data of their existing coverage maps ahead of submitting their application for funding (refer section 7.3 of the Guidelines).

This information must be submitted by 5pm AEDT 18 January 2022. Applications must be submitted by 5pm AEDT 18 February 2022.

To increase the reach of the Program, applicants are encouraged to seek financial co-contributions from state, territory or local governments, local communities and/or other third parties.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with state, territory and local governments, and local communities regarding the locations for which they intend to build Proposed Solutions.

Applications with written support may receive additional weighting in the assessment process. Written support must be submitted with the application for funding. See section 6 of the guidelines for further detail.