New national approach to improving mobile coverage in housing growth areas

A State and Territory working group established by the Albanese Government has agreed to national planning principles to ensure more Australians have reliable mobile coverage as soon as they move into a new housing estate.
 
The agreement follows the Albanese Government’s changes to the Telecommunications in New Developments (TIND) policy announced in February, where all new housing developments of 50 house lots or more should include consideration of mobile coverage during planning processes.
 
This reflects Australians’ expectations about access to essential utilities – water, electricity and telecommunications services – in new housing developments.
 
The new agreed national principles:

  • Recognise the need for reliable mobile telecommunications connectivity as an essential utility in all established and future growth areas;
  • Respond to shifting demands on mobile networks, and accept additional infrastructure will be needed to provide sufficient coverage and capacity;
  • Promote infrastructure sharing, and its benefits, in deployments;
  • Ensure early intervention and appropriate regulatory safeguards enable streamlined development approval barriers;
  • Safeguard identified sites to support both existing and future mobile telecommunications and enabling infrastructure; and
  • Encourage improved information sharing between telecommunications and planning authorities on existing and planned coverage for expected re-zoning and land releases.

The Mobile Telecommunications Working Group which developed the national principles is co-led by the Commonwealth and New South Wales (NSW) Government, and comprises senior communications and planning government officials from the Commonwealth, States and Territories.

For more information about the Mobile Telecommunications Working Group and its Report, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/improving-mobile-connectivity
 
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“Mobile coverage is an essential service, just like electricity and water.It’s unacceptable Australians are moving into new housing developments and don’t have access to decent connectivity.

“The report from the Mobile Telecommunications Working Group, agreed by State and Territory Planning Ministers, outlines new principles for a nationally consistent planning approach across jurisdictions.

“I look forward to working with the States and Territories to implement this streamlined approach and delivering a better-connected Australia.”
 
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, the Hon Paul Scully MP:
 
“People moving into modern homes expect telecommunications infrastructure to be of a modern standard.
 
“The adoption of these new principles will support the better planning of these services to support new homes.
 
“The right planning approach will result in more connectivity for more people into the future.”