Audit drive testing data compared to MNO mobile coverage maps
Non-aligned road segments are identified where data collected from Audit Roads drive testing varies from Mobile Network Operator (MNO) mobile coverage maps. The MNO mobile coverage maps show outdoor handheld predicted mobile coverage. There may be some direct measurement by MNOs, but it is largely calculated through a predictive algorithm. The assumptions and constants used for the predictive algorithm are determined by each individual MNO. The MNO coverage maps are provided by the department using data sourced from the ACCC’s Audit of Telecommunications Infrastructure Assets – Record Keeping Rules (Infrastructure RKR) handheld coverage datasets. This was last published on 31 January 2024.
Variance between Audit results and MNO coverage maps can arise due to:
- Interference with the mobile signal due to factors such as physical obstructions (buildings, trees, terrain) and certain electromagnetic sources.
- Network development (new mobile cells or enhanced infrastructure) that may not yet be reflected in the MNO coverage maps (noting that these are updated once per year).
- Network faults or outages (planned and unplanned).
- User demand saturating mobile cells and impacting network performance.
- MNO coverage maps not accurately predicting real-world mobile coverage.
The non-alignments identified during data processing are sent to the MNOs, who then return any feedback on causation (if known). Based on this feedback, non-aligned road segments are organised into different categories:
| Non-Alignment Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Network development/maintenance (planned outage) | A known and planned outage identified by the MNO that occurred at the same time as the Audit drive testing. |
| Network fault (unplanned outage) | An unplanned outage identified by the MNO that occurred at the same time as the Audit drive testing (e.g. due to power outage, cable damage, software/network management issues, etc.) |
| Coverage not found | An area where no coverage was found during Audit drive testing, but the MNO predictive coverage maps show there is coverage. MNOs state that the signal strength may be marginal or inconsistent due to distance from the nearest mobile tower (such as at the cell edge) or where there are environmental obstacles. |
| Pending Feedback from MNO | The MNO is in the process of providing feedback on the areas of non-alignment to Accenture, and it is expected to be received soon. |
| No feedback from MNO | Feedback not received from MNO. |
| Not explained by MNO | The MNO acknowledged the non-alignment but did not provide feedback on causation. |
The non-alignments are published on the Visualisation Tool as a geospatial layer that can be toggled on and off. Hovering the mouse over a road segment will show the information for that road segment, including the non-alignment category. New data is added to the Visualisation Tool each month as the Audit drive testing progresses, and historical non-alignment data can be viewed using the date filtering field in the Visualisation Tool. The most recent non-alignment data is also available in the following spreadsheet:
-
Document
Date Published: 19 August 2025