The Hon Kristy McBain MP

Member for Eden-Monaro

The Hon Michelle Rowland MP

Minister for Communications 

Communities across Eden-Monaro will be safer thanks to improved mobile network resilience funded through the Albanese Government’s Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP). The Program aims to reduce the risks of service outages during natural disasters and throughout the response and recovery period – by improving the resilience of mobile network telecommunications infrastructure.

Round 2 of the MNHP is providing $14.2 million for 386 projects across the country, with more than $2.2 million in New South Wales, including 12 projects in Eden-Monaro.

• In the Snowy Valleys, this includes at Adelong, Batlow, Rosewood, Tumbarumba, and in the Tumut region.
• In the Yass Valley, this includes at Mundoonen, Murrumbateman, Paynes Road near Bookham, Yellow Creek Road and the Yass Interchange.

Upgrades to these mobile base stations will keep them online for longer, and also mitigate the potential for single points of failure to cause wider network outages.

Approximately 90 per cent of the 988 Round 1 MNHP projects to improve mobile network telecommunications infrastructure resilience are now complete. Round 2 funding brings the total number of projects to 1,385.

The MNHP is part of the Albanese Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia which is improving mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience. The program is driving productivity, economic and social participation for rural, regional and First Nation’s communities and helping to narrow the digital divide.

Rollout schedules will be published on the grantees’ websites once contracts are executed. For a full list of funded projects, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/mnhp

Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“While no telecommunications network can ever be 100 per cent disaster-proof, the Albanese Government reducing the risk of communications outages during natural disasters.

“More than 1,000 projects to strengthen telecommunications resilience have now been funded under the Program. 

“Upgrades across Eden-Monaro will support community safety by helping to mitigate the impacts of service outages during natural disasters, and throughout the response and recovery phase.

“The MNHP is another example of the Albanese Government delivering on its commitment to improve connectivity for regional, rural, remote Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain MP:

“Communities in Eden-Monaro know that during disasters, conditions on the ground can change rapidly – which is why having access to reliable connectivity to receive emergency information and to keep in touch with family and friends is crucial.

“That’s why the Albanese Government continues to invest in critical telecommunication infrastructure upgrades across Eden-Monaro, as part of our $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

“I’m proud to be delivering this major investment in Eden Monaro’s telecommunications resilience that will see 12 mobile base stations upgraded – a great outcome for our community.”

ENDS