The Australian Government recognises that the development of innovative telecommunications solutions are important to help people stay connected during natural disasters.
The Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation (TDRI) program will promote the development of new technologies to provide solutions for telecommunications disaster resilience, particularly in our regional, remote and First Nations communities.
The $50 million commitment was announced and funded under the Australian Government's Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, and will run from 2022–25. Funded projects will improve the preparedness of Australia's telecommunications networks against increasing climate risks, including against an anticipated increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters in Australia.
The program will be delivered through two competitive grants rounds. Round 1 will focus on funding innovative solutions that will strengthen the resilience of telecommunications against the impacts of power outages. This focus recognises that power outages remain one of the most common causes of all telecommunications outages during periods of disaster.
Round 2 will focus on other innovative telecommunications technologies (excluding power-based solutions, which will be funded in Round 1) that will improve the resiliency, redundancy and availability of telecommunications during and/or following a natural disaster.
Consultation
The Government is consulting with members of the public, the telecommunications industry and government stakeholders on the design of rounds 1 and 2 of TDRI, including draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines. Visit here to have your say. Consultation will end 5.00pm on Friday 9 June 2023.
Rounds 1 and 2 of the Program are expected to open for applications in the coming months, following consideration of feedback received during the consultation process.
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