Telstra, Optus and TPG are getting $13.2 million in federal funding to improve back-up power at 467 mobile phone towers across the country.
Money for the upgrades – which will ensure a minimum of 12 hours of back-up power at towers in the event that mains electricity is lost – is being provided under Stage 1 of the $18 million Mobile Network Hardening Program announced earlier this year.
The second stage will include a grants program to support a range of “hardening” measures at high-priority locations to prevent telecommunications outages during disaster events.
Besides improved back-up power, these measures include improved facility design and the provision of backhaul transmission redundancy.
Commonwealth funding would be available for the second stage for up to 50 percent of the capital costs of the upgrades, with the rest provided by the grant recipient.
Click here for more information on the program.