The Mobile Black Spot Program - West Coast Tasmania Mobile Capacity Uplift Round provides grant funding to boost mobile coverage and capacity in the Local Government Areas of Circular Head, Waratah-Wynyard, and West Coast on the west coast of Tasmania.

Overview

This funding opportunity, supported under the Australian Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, offers up to $9,800,000.00 (GST exclusive). Eligible activities include upgrades to mobile base stations and backhaul networks, as well as the construction of new mobile base stations.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding under this Round, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Possess an Australian Business Number.
• Be registered for the purpose of GST.
• Be a national Mobile Network Operator (MNO).

Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs) may participate by partnering with an MNO. For the purposes of this Round, an MNO is defined as a company that:

• Supplies a public telecommunications service within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth).
• Holds an apparatus or spectrum licence (or both) for the supply of public mobile telecommunications services under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth).
• Operates a mobile network that provides coverage to at least 80% of the Australian population.

Application Process and Timeline

The process for this grant opportunity is targeted or restricted competitive.

• Guidelines Release and Applications Open: 16 July 2026
• Application Close Date and Time: 28-Aug-2026 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
• Assessment of Applications: Up to 6 weeks
• Announcement of Successful Projects: From Quarter 4 of 2026
• Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants: From Quarter 4 of 2026
• Project Start Date: On execution of the grant agreement
• Project End Date: As included in the grant agreement or by 30 April 2028

Applications must be submitted to MBSP@infrastructure.gov.au by 17:00 AEST on 28 August 2026. Further details regarding required documentation are available in section 7 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

Important Considerations

Applicants are encouraged to seek financial and/or in-kind contributions from third parties to maximize the benefit of the Round. Furthermore, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with relevant stakeholders, including federal, Tasmanian and local parliamentarians, the Tasmanian and local governments, local organisations and communities, and emergency service organisations.

A written endorsement from the relevant local government confirming that the proposed project is a local priority meeting community needs is mandatory. If a project spans more than one target LGA, written endorsement from each relevant local government must be provided.

Contact Information

For inquiries, contact the following details:

• Director: Mobile Investments - Communities
• Email Address: mbsp@infrastructure.gov.au
• Web: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/