$15 million available to boost mobile resilience during disasters

Applications are now open for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP) to strengthen the resilience of mobile services across regional, rural and remote Australia.

Up to $15 million is available to help mitigate the impact of natural disasters on mobile services in our regions – including for remote and First Nations communities.



Resilience upgrades eligible for funding under the MNHP include:

  • upgrading backup power capacity to a minimum of 12 hours at mobile sites;
  • physically elevating infrastructure to protect it from floods;
  • delivering emergency power solutions – like portable power generators – to rapidly restore services during or after a disaster;
  • providing redundant backhaul so that sites have multiple connections to the network in case one goes down; and
  • expanding protection zones around mobile sites to decrease bushfire risk.

While grant funding is available for mobile network operators, infrastructure providers and managers of a telco network, the Government has established a project noticeboard to allow communities to engage with telcos on projects they want to see in their community.

Funding for further rounds of the MHNP was included in the October 2022-23 Federal Budget as part of the Albanese Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

In total, the Albanese Government is investing $2.2 billion in regional communications - the most significant investment in regional communications since the inception of the National Broadband Network.

The MNHP is a key part of the Albanese Government’s comprehensive approach to communications resilience and disaster management, including the $50 million Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation initiative and the $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Initiative.

Applications for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program close on Friday, 17 November 2023.

For more information on the Mobile Network Hardening Program, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/mnhp



Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

 

“While no communications network can ever be 100 per cent resilient, the Albanese Government is determined to do what we can to keep telco infrastructure up and running during disasters.



“Round 2 of the Mobile Networking Hardening Program will deliver resilience improvements in communities across the country.

 

“The MNHP is part of the Albanese Government’s $2.2 billion investment in regional communications; the most significant funding investment by any government since the inception of the National Broadband Network.

 

“I strongly encourage communities and telecommunications providers to work together to identify potential projects, particularly those which are a priority to remote and First Nations communities.”