Closed Grant Opportunity View - GO6672
Peri-Urban Mobile Program Round 2
Contact Details
Director, Mobile Coverage – Regional Communities
The Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP) Round 2 will provide competitive grant funding of up to $20 million (GST exclusive) to Mobile Network Operators (MNO) and Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIP) to deliver new or upgraded mobile phone infrastructure to improve mobile phone reception and quality of service for mobile telecommunication users in peri-urban fringe areas of Australia’s major cities. The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the edges of the suburbs, creating higher risks for people living and working in those areas.
The eligible locations under PUMP Round 2 include: Adelaide, Ballarat, Bendigo, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra/Queanbeyan, Central Coast, Darwin, Geelong, Gold Coast/Tweed Heads, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Toowoomba, Townsville and Wollongong.
To be eligible for funding under PUMP Round 2, applicants must:
o have an Australian Business Number;
o be registered for the purposes of the Goods and Services Tax; and
o be a MNO or MNIP
A MNO means a company that: supplies a public mobile telecommunications service within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1997; holds an apparatus or spectrum licence (or both) for the supply of public mobile telecommunications services under the Radiocommunications Act 1992; and operates a network that provides mobile coverage to at least 80 per cent of the Australian population.
A MNIP means a company, other than an MNO, that provides communications infrastructure in Australia or overseas, including the installation and operation of infrastructure to be used by one or more MNOs to provide public mobile telecommunications services. MNIP applications must be accompanied by written evidence of intent from at least one MNO to enter into a commercially binding commitment to use the infrastructure to deliver mobile services as described at section 4.2 of the Guidelines for the Operational Period of a Proposed Solution. Funding may be awarded to eligible MNIPs on the condition that the MNIP and relevant MNO(s) enter into a binding commercial commitment prior to the finalisation of the Grant Agreement.
Stage 1: Guidelines released and applications open (18 December 2023)
Stage 2: Applicant registration and pre-application documentation submitted by potential applicants (where applicable) (15 January 2024)
Stage 3: Initial proposals for Proposed Solution submitted to the department (12 February 2024)
Stage 4: Application period closes (3 April 2024)
Stage 5: Applications assessed (To be advised)
Stage 6: Announcement of successful applications (To be advised)
Stage 7: Negotiation of Grant Agreements (To be advised)
Stage 8: Commencement of Grant Activity (On execution of respective Grant Agreement).
Stage 9: End of Grant Activity (As specified in the respective Grant Agreement)
Stage 10: Rollout completion (no later than 30 June 2027)
Stage 11: End date of Operational Period (As specified in the respective Grant Agreement)
$20,000,000.00
Potential applicants must register their interest with the department by 17:00 AEDT 15 January 2024 and sign a non-disclosure agreement before gaining access to the Application Pack (refer Guidelines PUMP Round 2: Processes, and Section 7.1).
Following registration, potential applicants must submit their existing handheld coverage maps, where applicable (refer Guidelines Section 7.2).
Registered applicants must lodge initial proposals for locations where they are interested in applying for funding by 17:00 AEDT 29 January 2024 (refer Guidelines Section 7.3)
To increase the reach of PUMP Round 2, applicants are encouraged to seek financial and in-kind co-contributions from state, territory or local governments, local communities and/or other third parties.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with state, territory and local governments, emergency service organisations and local communities regarding the locations for which they intend to build Proposed Solutions.
A Project Noticeboard has been established to help local councils and community groups identify mobile coverage, reception and quality of service issues in eligible Round 2 locations. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Noticeboard as part of developing their proposals. The Noticeboard is available at:
Contact Details
Director, Mobile Coverage – Regional Communities