Mobile Black Spot Program

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

The program was established when the 2011–12 Regional Telecommunications Review found that the mobile coverage footprint in Australia was approaching the limit of commercial viability and financial incentive for network operators to continue expansion, which would leave many areas to continue to lack phone reception as there would not be an incentive for mobile carriers to continue expanding themselves.^[1] Prior to the establishment of the program, the government took submissions from the public for black spots to be addressed, with over 6,000 black spots throughout the country being submitted by the public.^[2]

The Mobile Black Spot Program was an election promise of Tony Abbott's election campaign in 2013, when he pledged $20 million of government funding specifically to the program, $80 million to improving coverage in areas such as major transport routes and stated intention to collaborate with NBN Co to co-locate black spot funded towers on existing NBN fixed wireless towers.^[3]

499 base stations were funded under the first round of the program, with $100 million of government money.^[4] Telstra received funding to build 429 base stations, and Vodafone got 70. Optus was absent from this first round.^[5] The first tower out of this round to be commissioned was a Vodafone tower, at the White Rock Wind Farm near Glen Innes, New South Wales.^[6]

266 base stations were funded under round 2 of the program, with $57.5 million of federal government money, and $54 million contributed from state and local governments. 146 sites were built by Telstra, 113 were built by Optus,^[7] and Vodafone got funding for just 4, which they expressed disappointment about.^[8]

Round 3 of the program was focused on locations perceived to be of a high priority by the government. $60 million was allocated to 89 locations. Optus was allocated 12 sites, Vodafone got one, the remainder of the funding going to Telstra.^[9][10] The first tower under this round was switched on in June 2018, at East Lynne, New South Wales.^[11]

180 base stations were built from the $25 million allocated to this round of the program. Telstra built 131 towers, and Optus 49, with Vodafone absent from funding in this round.^[12]

182 new base stations were funded under this round, funding for which Telstra got 97 mobile sites, Optus 83, and Field Solutions Group got 2, who also made their debut in the program in this round.^[13] $36.8 million of Commonwealth government money was used in this round.

Round 5A was established as a supplementary round to Round 5, as out of the $80 million allocated to the round initially, only $36.8 million was used. Under this round, there was a specific focus on major transport routes and disaster prone areas.^[13] Field Solutions Group received funding to trial their neutral host model, which would have the possibility of providing reception to customers of any mobile carrier. FSG built these towers along the Adventure Way in Queensland, in conjunction with Optus.^[14] 67 new base stations were funded under this round, with Telstra getting funding for 48, Optus for 4, and the remainder going to FSG.^[15]

Round 6 has been dubbed the "improving mobile coverage" round, set to target 54 locations,^[16] for which $80 million of funding has been committed.^[17]