On 25th February 2025 the Albanese Labor Government announced a major reform, to provide universal outdoor mobile coverage across Australia by 2027.

Labor’s Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) requires mobile carriers to provide access to mobile voice and SMS almost everywhere in Australia.

UOMO intends to ensure up to five million square kilometres of new, competitive outdoor mobile coverage across Australia, including on more than 37,000 kilometres of regional roads.

The Government’s policy objectives are: expanding Triple Zero access across the nation; expanding outdoor voice and SMS coverage; and to improve the availability of mobile signals during disasters and power outages.

“The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will improve public safety, increase resilience during natural disasters and provide an extra layer of coverage in areas previously thought too difficult or costly to reach,” said the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland MP.

This reform is made possible by innovations in Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOSats) and the arrival of Direct to Device (D2D) technology that enables signals from space direct to mobile devices.

The Government plans to consult with stakeholders and industry; then introduce legislation in 2025 to implement outdoor SMS and voice communication progressively, for completion by late 2027.

The policy has been informed by engagement with the LEOSat working group; advice by the Australian Communications and Media Authority on radio communications spectrum; the findings of the Regional Telecommunications Review and extensive feedback from regional and remote stakeholders and consumers about the need for multiple connectivity paths.

The Government remains committed and will continue to evolve its existing co-investment programs like the Mobile Black Spot Program and Mobile Network Hardening Program to expand terrestrial mobile coverage, resilience and capacity.

Further reforms to the longstanding universal services framework will be announced as the Government considers recommendations from the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomed today’s announcement that the Federal Government has committed to introducing a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO).

NFF President David Jochinke, who attended today’s announcement at the NSW Rural Fire Service HQ, said the obligation would create and safeguard a right for every Australian to access basic calls and text services from any location.

“Mobile black spots are a huge source of frustration for people in the bush,” Mr Jochinke said. 

“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.”

However, the NFF warned that this initiative should not be seen as an excuse to reduce investment in the terrestrial mobile network. The need for continued co-investment in mobile towers by telco providers and government isn’t going away.