Mobile phone and internet coverage across the Central-West Orana region will be improved through a new $14.5 million telecommunications program.
The program aims to reduce mobile blackspots and expand access to high-speed internet for households, businesses, and farms across the region.
As major renewable energy projects are developed in the area, telecommunications providers will receive financial support to upgrade and expand network infrastructure. The upgrades will improve long-standing coverage problems in local communities.
The program is expected to improve telecommunications coverage across more than 900 square kilometres of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. It will also provide hundreds of eligible properties with access to high-speed internet services.
Thousands of residents, workers, and visitors are expected to benefit from stronger mobile signals and improved digital connections.
Many telecommunications blackspots are located in remote areas where upgrades are often not commercially practical. The program will help fund new and upgraded infrastructure in areas where better connectivity is needed most.
Telecommunications providers will be able to apply for grants covering up to 70 per cent of project costs. Projects that include funding from industry partners or other organisations will also be encouraged.
The program will be managed through a partnership between EnergyCo and the NSW Telco Authority. Applications are expected to open in the coming months.
The initiative is part of a broader $128 million investment to support communities in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. More community benefits will also come from renewable energy projects connected to the region’s energy network.
Better digital connectivity will help local businesses, farmers, emergency services, and families access important services and new opportunities.