Improving connectivity in regional NSW

Connecting Country Communities Fund (CCCF)

The $50 million Connecting Country Communities Fund has invested in communications infrastructure to improve voice and data connectivity in regional NSW.

NSW Telco Authority and the Department of Regional NSW have delivered the program with an investment of $39 million under three rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program and $11 million in the Connecting Country Communities Program.

Mobile Black Spot Program

The Mobile Black Spot Program is a joint Commonwealth, state and industry program funded through a series of rounds, with the aim of extending and improving the coverage of high-quality mobile voice and data services in regional and rural areas across Australia.

NSW Telco Authority has worked with Regional NSW and carriers to deliver targeted rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program in NSW.

A total of 145 of 150 planned new or enhanced mobile base stations have been delivered to extend mobile coverage, providing coverage to more than 20,000 premises and 1,300 kms of major transport routes across regional NSW. Since 2017, more than 20,000 calls have been made to Triple Zero using mobile base stations delivered under this program.

The remaining five mobile base-stations to be delivered under CCCF will be managed by the Department of Regional NSW, to align project management efficiencies with their broader program of work under the Regional Digital Connectivity Program.

Connecting Country Communities Program

The Connecting Country Communities Program was developed to provide faster, more reliable broadband internet in regional NSW, to match the connectivity standards available in metropolitan areas.

The Program has improved fixed wireless broadband internet access in Southern NSW, making coverage available to thousands of households with many only receiving internet for the first time, or who had to rely on expensive satellite services.

Delivered by local regional telecommunications providers Yless4U and Kangaroo Valley Broadband Network, the Program has delivered 44 out of 46 base stations, providing high speed fixed wireless broadband to around 4,000 households and businesses in the Monaro region and Kangaroo Valley and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.