Current Grant Opportunity View - GO8516

The Mobile Black Spot Program West Coast Tasmania Mobile Capacity Uplift Round (the Round) will provide grant funding of up to $9.8 million (GST exclusive) to boost mobile coverage and capacity in the Local Government Areas of Circular Head, Waratah-Wynyard, and West Coast on the west coast of Tasmania.

Eligible grant activities include upgrades to mobile base stations and backhaul networks, and construction of new mobile base stations.

This grant opportunity is funded under the Australian Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.  

To be eligible for funding under the Round, an applicant must:

•      have an Australian Business Number

•      be registered for the purpose of GST, and

•      be a national Mobile Network Operator (MNO).

–      Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs) may participate in the Round by partnering with an MNO. 

For the purposes of the Round, an MNO means a company that:

•      supplies a public telecommunications service within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth)

•      holds an apparatus or spectrum licence (or both) for the supply of public mobile telecommunications services under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth), and

•      operates a mobile network that provides coverage to at least 80% of the Australian population.

Guidelines released and applications open - 16 July 2026

Applications close at 17:00 AEST - 28 August 2026

Assessment of applications – Up to 6 weeks

Announcement of successful projects - From Quarter 4 of 2026

Notification to unsuccessful applicants - From Quarter 4 of 2026

Start date of projects - On execution of the grant agreement

End date of projects - As included in the grant agreement or by 30 April 2028

$9,800,000.00

Applications must be submitted to MBSP@infrastructure.gov.au by 17:00 AEST on 28 August 2026.

Further details about the application process, including documents to be provided, are in section 7 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

To maximise the benefit of the Round, applicants are encouraged (but not required) to seek financial and/or in-kind contributions from third parties.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with relevant stakeholders about their project, including federal, Tasmanian and local parliamentarians, the Tasmanian and local governments, local organisations and communities, and emergency service organisations.

Applicants must provide written endorsement from the relevant local government that the proposed project is a local priority that meets community needs. If a project crosses more than one target LGA, written endorsement from each relevant local government must be provided.