A Telstra mobile phone tower.

AN Albanese Government commitment to a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation requiring mobile phone carriers to provide voice and SMS services across Australia could be made moot by extending customer access to the Starlink network, according to the chair of a Senate inquiry into the 3G network shutdown.

This week the Federal Government’s UOMO announcement pre-empted the release of the final report of a Senate inquiry into the 3G network shutdown that recommended the Australian Government and the telecommunications industry do all they can to accelerate the introduction of mobile phone services via the Starlink network.

The inquiry committee led by Nationals Senator Matt Canavan also recommended that the Australian Government increase the scope of the National Audit of Mobile Coverage to include off-road areas, including on private land such as farming and grazing properties.

The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee also recommended that the Australian Government establish a program to help customers that have lost mobile phone coverage since the 3G shutoff. The committee said the program should be co-funded between industry and government for the purchase of connectivity equipment for use by residents in rural and remote areas, including boosters for buildings and vehicles, Starlink or other low-earth orbit satellite equipment and replacements for equipment rendered obsolete by the 3G shutdown.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said any expansion of the USO to cover mobile networks raises broader issues that the committee did not investigate in the narrow 3G inquiry.

“But more importantly the use of the Starlink network could make this question moot if it can provide service across the entire country soon.

“That is why we called for the mobile via Starlink service to be accelerated if possible.”

Senator Canavan said the Senate inquiry committee was well aware of the substantial cost that many face from the shutdown of the 3G network and their resulting loss of service.

“That is why we recommended a fund to compensate people who face this cost.

“We have suggested that the costs be funded by government and industry not those impacted.”

A media release from the Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said the UOMO will ensure up to 5 million square kilometres of new competitive outdoor mobile coverage across Australia, including over 37,000 kilometres on regional roads.

The release said the Albanese Government’s policy objectives are to:

expand Triple Zero access for Australians across the nation;

expand outdoor voice and SMS coverage into existing mobile black spots; and improve the availability of mobile signals during disasters and power outages.

This reform is only possible due to the transformative global innovations in Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOSats), and the arrival of Direct to Device (D2D) technology, which enables signals from space direct to mobile devices, the release said.

Ms Rowland’s release said the government will consult and introduce legislation in 2025 to expand the universal service framework to incorporate mobile coverage for the first time. Implementation of outdoor SMS and voice will be expected by late 2027, with many Australians likely to obtain access before then, the government said.

Ms Rowland today did not respond directly to the committee’s call for assistance for mobile phone users disadvantaged by the 3G shutdown.

“The mobile operators have guaranteed that customers that were within the 3G coverage maps would receive equivalent coverage and service on 4G and 5G after the switchover.

“We expect the mobile network operators to stand by this promise,” she said.

““We have enlivened the regulators, including the ACCC, to monitor this commitment.

“We have also required weekly reporting on complaint levels around post-3G issues that the carriers are receiving,” she said.

“We encourage any customers who feel adversely impacted by the switchover to contact their provider.”

Keep investing in terrestrial mobile network – NFF

NFF president David Jochinke welcomed the UOMO commitment and said mobile black spots are a huge source of frustration for people in the bush.

“Coverage gaps can compromise safety and make it harder to run a business.

“This new obligation will ensure that the safety of rural Australians, and their access to basic mobile services, cannot be put in the too-hard basket,” he said.

However, the NFF warned that the UOMO commitment could not be seen as an excuse to reduce investment in the terrestrial mobile network.

“Land based coverage from mobile towers will still be the gold standard for years to come.

“Satellite based connectivity is just one piece of the puzzle, and the need for continued co-investment in mobile towers by telco providers and government isn’t going away,” he said.

“We’ve still got a long way to go before the bush is on a level playing field with the city when it comes to connectivity.

“It’s why this election we are still seeking a commitment for a Regional Telecommunications Strategy and further funding for the On Farm Connectivity Program,” Mr Jochinke said.