The Albanese Government will undertake an independent audit of mobile coverage to better identify black spots and guide investment priorities from 2023.
The 2022-23 Federal Budget confirmed $20 million funding which delivers on a key component of the Better Connectivity for Regional and Rural Australia Plan.
The 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review noted community concerns about mobile providers’ predictive coverage maps and suggested an audit could be helpful in validating them.
A key component of the audit will be conducted in collaboration with Australia Post to leverage off its transport and delivery assets. A competitive tender process will be used to identify a partner company to place mobile signal measurement devices on delivery vans and trucks and to get the best value for taxpayers’ money.
This will gather the best information possible about mobile coverage, capacity issues and gaps to guide and better inform future investment priorities and policies.
The audit forms part of the Albanese Government’s broader Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, which also commits $400 million to expand regional mobile coverage and improve the resilience of communications systems, especially in areas with elevated natural disaster risks.
