Low earth orbit satellites are key to mobile coverage, and gaining support

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a trail of destruction stretched along a significant stretch of Australia's east coast.

Hundreds of thousands of people, homes and businesses were left without power - and with that, phone connectivity also went down.

Labor's universal outdoor mobile obligation (UOMO) will provide a simple public safety connectivity solution to this.

This will expand outdoor mobile coverage for up to 70 per cent of our vast continent.

This is possible because mobile companies can now leverage the latest generation of global low earth orbit satellites (LEOSats) to help connect mobile phones.

This means people have expanded options to contact triple zero when networks are down, and in areas that don't have mobile phone reception.

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 Australians can see the sky.

Earlier this year, from Los Angeles, we saw this capability in action.

As the highly destructive and deadly wildfires struck, hundreds of thousands of messages were sent using low orbit satellites and unmodified 4G phones.

In the depths of the crisis, LA residents were able to text loved ones, neighbours, and, most importantly, emergency services.

Yet, the Coalition rushed to mindlessly oppose Labor's policy despite overwhelming, and growing, support from a wide range of stakeholders.

This includes consumer groups, the National Farmers Federation, regional councils from Queensland to Victoria, Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote (BIRRR), and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

We will fill the giant mobile black spot - around 70 per cent of Australia's land mass - that simply cannot be addressed through mobile tower deployment across our vast continent.

New satellite technology is not a replacement for land mobile networks and the need to keep investing, but rather a complement.

Labor will introduce legislation for UOMO in 2025, with implementation by the end of 2027.

Our initial focus is on the continent-wide emergency contact capability.

Basic mobile data will be considered in the future as technology develops.

Mobile carriers all want to take advantage of these new and emerging technologies and the Albanese Government wants to support this momentum.

Our longer-term interest is to help facilitate a competitive outdoor mobile coverage market for the benefit of Australian consumers. And we are examining incentives to support satellite and mobile operators to deliver public interest and competitive objectives.

Now is not a time for thinking small, looking back, or aiming low.

This is a time to lean into opportunities to make Australia the most connected continent.