CONNECTING COUNTRY COMMUNITIES Mobile Black Spot Program fact sheet A NATIONAL PROGRAM — OVERVIEW ABOUT THE NSW GOVERNMENT’S Government and industry are working together to CONTRIBUTION improve mobile phone coverage – particularly in regional The NSW Government has committed more than Australia – through the Mobile Black Spot Program. $39 million from the Connecting Country Communities Fund to assist mobile network carriers with the cost of building Work has begun on the installation of up to 183 new or mobile base stations. upgraded mobile base stations across regional NSW and outer Sydney. This work is funded by a combined This investment will lead to the greatest increase in investment of over $120 million so far in NSW from the mobile coverage to regional and remote communities Commonwealth and state governments, and mobile delivered by a single public funding program in the network providers. history of Australian mobile communications. This major infrastructure investment will help regional residents and businesses stay connected. In particular, MORE INVESTMENT TO COME the rollout will improve mobile coverage along major The Australian Government has announced it will transport routes, in small communities and across fund the Priority Locations round of the Mobile Black locations prone to natural disasters. It will make regional Spot Program, with an allocation of $60 million. NSW an even better place to live and do business. Mobile coverage issues for 19 of the priority locations are already being addressed and a further investment All sites funded under Round 1 and Round 2 of the of $82.8 million will address the remaining 106 priority program should be operational by the end of 2018. locations, including 25 in NSW, and the Australian Already over 100 sites have been activated, with Government is seeking solutions to target them. the remaining sites planned to be activated by the end of 2018. More information on the Priority Locations round of the program can be found at communications.gov.au/ mobile_coverage. CS0269 0618 BENEFITS FOR REGIONAL NSW The program aims to: • identify key non-coverage or mobile black spot sites The Mobile Black Spot Program will: across NSW • extend the coverage of high-quality voice and mobile • establish end-to-end solutions for site builds that broadband services in regional and rural areas of NSW provide coverage for mobile black spot sites • provide mobile coverage to residents and people • deliver maximum value for money travelling on major transport routes within NSW, • leverage the successful supplier’s network including immediate access to the services provided by infrastructure to reduce duplication of site builds public safety agencies identified under the NSW Government’s • focus on locations with unique coverage problems in Critical Communications Enhancement Program small communities or areas prone to natural disasters • effectively eliminate mobile black spots and extend • boost competition in mobile communications, mobile phone coverage within identified areas. leading to the availability of cheaper and higher quality services WORKING WITH INDUSTRY TO ADDRESS • provide access to new technologies via improved ADDITIONAL BLACK SPOTS mobile coverage for key business sectors in The NSW Telco Authority is currently undertaking regional NSW a Request for Proposals process, inviting • deliver new and high-quality mobile voice and data telecommunications providers to nominate how coverage to approximately 18,800 premises within they can address additional black spots in NSW not regional and rural areas, on completion of the program. already addressed by the Mobile Black Spot Program. The outcomes of this process are expected to be MOBILE BLACK SPOT IDENTIFICATION announced before the end of 2018. AND SELECTION The 183 locations were chosen following a public call for WORKING WITH REGIONAL submissions nominating mobile black spots, combined COMMUNITIES with a competitive selection process. Mobile network If you live or work in regional NSW and are experiencing operators were asked to nominate sites where they regular problems with mobile phone coverage and/or would build new or upgrade base stations to address the internet connectivity (i.e. slow or unreliable service) black spots nominated by the public. you can let us know about it through the Selection criteria included the extent of new coverage Connecting Country Communities Fund web page or by provided, the number of premises within the new phoning 1300 679 673 before 15 August 2018. handheld coverage area, and the length of major transport routes receiving new coverage. FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information about the For more information on black spot site selection, see the Mobile Black Spot Program go to fact sheet at communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage nsw.gov.au/connectingcountrycommunities. MOBILE BLACK SPOT PROGRAM IN NSW Email: [email protected] The NSW Government is committed to improving and Phone: 1300 679 673 extending coverage of high-quality voice and broadband services in rural and regional areas. The Mobile Black Spot Program in NSW is being delivered through the NSW Telco Authority and is focussed on targeting mobile black spots within NSW, specifically within smaller regional and rural communities. CS0269 Page 2 183 Commonwealth and state-funded MBSP sites New South Wales Newcastle Sydney Wollongong Black spots identified MBSP sites completed *At 11 May 2018 CS0269 Page 3 Mobile Black Spot Program Rollout in NSW 2018 ROUND 1: LOCATIONS IN NSW Local Government Local Government Location Location Area Area Abercrombie Road, Paling Comboyne B Port Macquarie-Hastings Oberon Yards Copmanhurst Clarence Valley Anglers Reach Snowy Monaro Regional Culmaran Creek Kyogle Araluen Queanbeyan-Palerang Cultowa Cowra Attunga Tamworth Regional Cumnock Cabonne Avonside Snowy Monaro Regional Dalgety Snowy Monaro Regional Babyl Creek Kyogle Dalton Upper Lachlan Shire Balala Uralla Shire Darbys Falls Cowra Barraba Tamworth Regional Deniliquin Murray River Barry Blayney Shire Dooralong Central Coast Bedgerabong Forbes Shire Drake Tenterfield Shire Bentley Richmond Valley Dungowan Tamworth Regional Billimari Cowra Duri Tamworth Regional Binalong Yass Valley Elands MidCoast Blue Mountains National Wollondilly Shire Park South Elsmore Inverell Bodalla Eurobodalla Shire Ettrick Kyogle Bogee Lithgow Eugowra Cabonne Bonalbo A Kyogle Farrants Hill Tweed Shire Bonalbo B Kyogle Fossickers Way Tamworth Regional Bonshaw Inverell Shire Golspie Upper Lachlan Shire Brooms Head Clarence Valley Goolma Mid-Western Regional Bunnaloo Murray River Gooloogong Cowra Burringbar Tweed Shire Grattai Mid-Western Regional Burrumbuttock Greater Hume Shire Hallsville Tamworth Regional Buxton Wollondilly Hernani Clarence Valley Camboon Mid-Western Regional Hickeys Creek Kempsey Shire Capertee Lithgow Hillgrove Armidale Regional Cargo Cabonne Invergowrie Uralla Shire Castlereagh Highway (Ben Jemalong Forbes Shire Lithgow Bullen) Jerrys Plains Singleton Central Tilba Eurobodalla Kings Plains Inverell Shire Clarence Lithgow Kioloa Shoalhaven Clunes Byron Shire Koonorigan Lismore Coalcliff Wollongong Koorawatha Hilltops Coffee Camp Lismore Kunghur Tweed Shire Colo Heights Hawkesbury Kurrajong Hawkesbury Comboyne A Port Macquarie-Hastings Ladysmith Wagga Wagga CS0269 Page 4 Mobile Black Spot Program Rollout in NSW 2018 ROUND 1: LOCATIONS IN NSW Local Government Local Government Location Location Area Area Laguna Cessnock Porters Retreat Oberon Lemon Tree Central Coast Possum Creek Byron Shire Lower Peacock Kyogle Rockley Bathurst Regional Lowesdale (Riverina Hwy) Federation Rocky Creek Inverell Shire Lue Mid-Western Regional Sackville North The Hills Shire Manildra Cabonne Sandy Hill Tenterfield Shire Manilla Tamworth Regional Savernake Federation Manna Mountain Lachlan Shire Sherwood Kempsey Shire Mannus Snowy Valleys Stanhope Singleton Mayfield Goulburn Mulwaree Tabbita Griffith Merriwagga Carrathool Tabulam Tenterfield Shire Mid-Western Hwy (Gunbar South) Hay Shire Tarlo Upper Lachlan Shire Mid-Western Hwy (Gunbar) Carrathool Shire Taylors Arm Nambucca Shire Minnie Water Clarence Valley The Channon Lismore Molong Cabonne Tomboye Queanbeyan-Palerang Moonbi Tamworth Regional Towamba Bega Valley Shire Mount Carrington Tenterfield Shire Trunkey Creek Bathurst Regional Mount Hunter Wollondilly Shire Ungarie Bland Shire Mount Tomah Blue Mountains Urbenville Tenterfield Shire Mumbil Dubbo Regional Walcha Walcha Murringo Hilltops Walcha Road Walcha Nattai Wollondilly Shire Wanganella Edward River Nelligen Eurobodalla Shire Warral Tamworth Regional Nerriga Queanbeyan-Palerang Warroo Forbes Shire Nethercote Bega Valley Shire Webbs Creek Hawkesbury Neville Blayney Shire Weethalle Bland Shire Noonbinna Cowra Wentworth Wentworth Shire Numeralla Snowy Monaro Regional Westdale Tamworth Regional Nymboida Clarence Valley Wherrol Flat MidCoast Oakdene Dubbo Regional White Rock Mountain Inverell Shire Oxley Vale Tamworth Regional Windellama Goulburn Mulwaree Paterson Dungog Shire Windeyer Mid-Western Regional Piallamore Tamworth Regional Woodstock Cowra Pilliga Walgett Shire Woolomin Tamworth Regional Pilliga Forest (Newell Hwy) Narrabri Shire Wyong Creek Central Coast Piora Richmond Valley Yarramalong Central Coast CS0269 Page 5 Mobile Black Spot Program Rollout in NSW 2018 ROUND 2: LOCATIONS IN NSW Local Government Local Government Location Location Area Area Baldersleigh Armidale Regional Niemur Murray River Ballimore Dubbo Regional North-East of Nymboida