The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today released guidelines for the $8 million Mobile Connect program for 2008-2009.

“The program will fund new infrastructure for a list of priority locations, to extend terrestrial mobile phone coverage in rural and regional Australia,” Senator Conroy said.

“The locations were chosen, drawing on advice from the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee which has undertaken extensive consultation throughout regional Australia over the past months.”

“The Rudd Government has a preference for coverage being provided to population centres where there are also community services such as schools, police, health and council services.”

“Stretches of regional highways with no existing mobile coverage have also been identified for potential funding,” Senator Conroy said.

The Australian Government appreciates the importance of mobile telephony to Australians.

Currently, terrestrial mobile coverage reaches 99% of the population. Satellite mobile phone services cover the entire Australian landmass and population and are available from a number of providers.

The Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme remains available to provide funding to increase the affordability of mobile satellite telephony for people living or working in areas that do not have coverage from terrestrial mobile phone networks.

Guidelines for the Mobile Connect program are available at www.dbcde.gov.au/mobileconnect

Applications to provide the new terrestrial infrastructure close on 5:00pm 31 July 2008 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).