Government actions $100m mobile black spot program

The federal government says it has received a wide range of submissions in response to its discussion paper on the $100 million Mobile Black Spot Programme.

A significant number of submissions commented on the design and implementation of the program, and many nominated specific locations as candidates for improved coverage.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher MP said he was pleased with the submissions received and thanked the individuals and organisations which had contributed.

The government has committed $100 million to improve mobile coverage by rolling out new mobile base stations, funding for which will be allocated through a competitive selection process designed to leverage a significant co-contribution from mobile carriers.

The government will develop a database of locations eligible for funding based on the locations nominated to the Department of Communications.

This database will be provided to the mobile network operators and other companies that will be invited to lodge bids under the competitive selection process, which is expected to occur in the second half of this year. In the first half of 2015, the government expects to be in a position to announce the locations that have been chosen, and in the second half of 2015, it is expected that the first base stations to receive funding will start to roll out.

Submissions commenting on the design and implementation of the Mobile Black Spot Programme are available to view online.