Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation draft legislation released

Draft legislation for the Australian Government’s Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) has been officially released for consultation, alongside the government’s response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review.

UOMO means outdoor coverage will be accessible almost anywhere Australians can see the sky. It will require mobile carriers to provide reasonable access to mobile voice and text outdoors almost everywhere across Australia.

First announced by the government in February this year, the new reforms are set to benefit remote and regional communities by expanding connectivity, and should see the addition of more than 5 million km² of basic outdoor mobile SMS and voice coverage across Australia. Operators are expected to use a combination of their existing services and emerging direct-to-device (D2D) technology, provided through low-Earth-orbit satellites (LEOSats), to expand baseline outdoor mobile coverage.

“We are modernising Australia’s communications infrastructure to ensure all Australians have access to essential telecommunications services when they need it,” said Minister for Communications Anika Wells.

“Whether you are facing a natural disaster, broken down on a highway, injured on the farm or lost in the bush, under UOMO there will be outdoor mobile coverage nearly anywhere you look up and see the sky.”

The government is seeking views from industry, community stakeholders and the Australian public on the draft legislation by 19 October 2025. To have your say, click here.

The legislation is a key part of the government’s response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review, which has made 14 recommendations to improve the telecommunications experience for regional, rural and remote Australians. The implementation of UOMO is seen as an important step towards modernising Australia’s universal service arrangements to guarantee all Australians have access to essential telecommunications services.

Other work already being delivered in response to the review includes the government’s investment to upgrade the nbn and expand its fixed wireless footprint, alongside NBN Co’s announcement that it will use LEOSats from Amazon’s Project Kuiper to deliver high-speed broadband to the bush. The government says it will also continue to invest in programs such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and Mobile Network Hardening Program to further expand mobile coverage, resilience and capacity.

In line with a recommendation from the review, the government will consider how best to structure such programs in the future. This consideration is assisted by the Mobile Black Spot Program Evaluation, which has also been released.

“I would like to sincerely thank Alannah MacTiernan, and the rest of the Regional Telecommunications Review Committee, for their expertise and commitment and we will continue to work with stakeholders and industry moving forward,” Wells said.

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