The Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP) is a grants program that provides funding to improve mobile connectivity in bushfire priority areas along the edges of Australia's major cities.
The Program
The program targets long standing mobile coverage and reception issues in the peri-urban fringes of Australia's major cities, including on the underserved fringes of large regional cities like Geelong, the Gold Coast, and Newcastle.
The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the edges of the suburbs, creating natural disaster risks for those living and working in those areas. These areas have been underserved because of their high cost, difficult terrain and lower population densities.
PUMP complements the Mobile Black Spot Program, providing grant funding to mobile network operators and infrastructure providers to deploy new mobile phone infrastructure to address mobile reception and coverage issues in peri-urban areas.
Round 2
As part of the 2022–23 Budget, the Government has committed $39.1 million for two new rounds of the program. These new rounds will expand the program to include mobile reception and quality of service issues in the peri-urban fringes of large regional cities like Geelong, the Gold Coast, and Newcastle.
The public consultation process on the draft PUMP Round 2 Guidelines opened on 5 July 2023 for six weeks. The draft guidelines, maps and information about the public consultation process can be found on the PUMP Round 2 “Have your say” page.
The consultation process closed at 5pm 16 August 2023. The department is currently considering the submissions received.
Round 2 Project Noticeboard
A Project Noticeboard for Round 2 has been established to help local councils and community groups to identify mobile coverage, reception and quality of service issues to assist Mobile Network Operators and Mobile Network Infrastructure providers to develop new infrastructure proposals for Round 2 of the PUMP. Local councils and community groups are invited to upload their project proposals to the Noticeboard.
The Noticeboard will be open until closing of applications for Round 2
Round 2— Peri-Urban Mobile Program noticeboard
Round 1 outcomes
PUMP is providing $28.2 million in funding to Optus, Telstra and TPG to deliver 66 4G and 5G mobile coverage solutions at 50 locations on the peri-urban fringe of Australia's major cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney).
These solutions will improve mobile connectivity for people living and working in areas of natural disaster risk, allowing communities to receive vital information during emergencies, seek help if needed and stay in touch with loved ones.
You can view the funded locations via the National Map. The rollout of PUMP Round 1 funded solutions has commenced.
Round 3
A Round 3 of PUMP will follow Round 2. Further information on Round 3 will be provided as the round is developed.
Additional information and resources
- The Round 1 Guidelines are available on GrantConnect
- A map of the funded PUMP locations is available on the National Map.