While the Connecting Victoria program(opens in a new window) is funding mobile and broadband connectivity improvements in more than 1,400 locations in Victoria, we've led and supported the Australian Government and other stakeholders on many other telecommunications projects. Read about these below.
Upgrading mobile coverage and fixing black spots through the Victorian Mobile Project
We’ve made more than 230 places in Victoria better connected with new mobile infrastructure through the $56 million Victorian Mobile Project. As well as upgrading mobile coverage, this project – which included the Mobile Black Spot Program(opens in a new window) – has improved safety by allowing people to contact emergency services in more locations.
Further investment through Connecting Victoria will deliver additional mobile infrastructure to connect more than 1,200 places across the state and work is underway now. Read about Connecting Victoria mobile projects(opens in a new window).(opens in a new window)
Improving mobile coverage in bushfire-prone areas through the Peri-Urban Mobile Program
Complementing the Mobile Black Spot Program, we’ve also been improving mobile coverage in bushfire-prone areas along the edges of Victoria’s urban areas through funding from the Australian Government’s Peri-Urban Mobile Program. Read more about the Peri-Urban Mobile Program.(opens in a new window)
Protecting infrastructure against extreme weather through STAND
We’re increasing to the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure to help prevent, mitigate and manage outages during emergencies, through funding from the Australian Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) program. STAND incorporates other initiatives, including:
The Mobile Network Hardening Program, which is focused on improving the resilience of infrastructure to:
- prevent outages during a natural disaster
- strengthen the resilience of telecommunications facilities to allow them to operate for longer during natural disasters
- support the rapid restoration of services following an outage.
The Provision of Satellite Connections to Emergency Services and Evacuation Centres is about providing essential internet access to help keep families and friends in touch with news updates and each other during natural disasters. We collaborated with the Australian Government, who funded the installation of NBN Sky Muster satellite connections to designated evacuation and relief and recovery centres. Learn more about STAND.(opens in a new window)
Boosting mobile coverage for regional commuters through the Regional Rail Connectivity Project
Passengers who travel on Victoria’s fast trail services to Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Traralgon and Seymour have mobile coverage, through the installation of mobile transmission repeaters on all V/Line-operated VLocity fleet vehicles. Completed in 2019, the Regional Rail Connectivity Project (RRCP) was a Victorian Government grants program.
Supporting digital inclusion through public wi-fi
For Victorians who don’t have easy or affordable access to the internet, free public wi-fi helps to bridge the gap. As well as our mobile and broadband projects, we've also brought free public wi-fi services to Ararat, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Melbourne CBD and Shepparton, in partnership with industry and local councils. Learn more about Public Wi-Fi.(opens in a new window)
Improving regional and rural connectivity through the Regional Connectivity Program (Rounds 1 and 2)
The Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) is an Australian Government grants program to fund 'place-based' telecommunications infrastructure projects to improve digital connectivity across regional, rural and remote Australia. Read about the Regional Connectivity Program.(opens in a new window)
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