THE Federal Government has released draft legislation for the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO), alongside its long-awaited response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review.

The UOMO will require mobile carriers to provide reasonable access to mobile voice and text outdoors almost everywhere across Australia.

The Government has said the UOMO is designed to help add more than 5 million square kilometres of basic mobile coverage across Australia, but what is ‘reasonable access’ and ‘basic coverage’?

Can rural Australians expect to see improvements to their mobile coverage as a result of this legislation or is the status quo reasonable enough?

The detail is missing from the draft legislation according to the National Farmers’ Federation.

NFF Telecommunications Committee Chair Peter Thompson said connectivity is essential to the productivity, sustainability and liveability of Australia’s farms and rural communities.

“Australian agriculture is constantly chasing productivity gains. Yet, persistent coverage gaps and unreliable service continue to plague the bush,” Mr Thompson said.

“The record number of submissions to the Review shows just how fed-up farmers are. The status quo isn’t good enough. We need real change.

“UOMO must guarantee reliable and affordable connectivity. It is vital to the safety and productivity of regional communities.”

The NFF supports the Government’s pursuit of tougher penalties for telcos that fail to meet obligations.

However, the Government’s response stops short of committing to urgent and ambitious recommendations from the Review.

“Farmers were hoping for firm commitments, especially on mobile roaming during emergencies. When it comes to safety, we can’t afford delays.

“With UOMO now positioned as the centrepiece of the Government’s regional connectivity agenda, the pressure to deliver tangible improvements for rural Australians could not be higher.

“The Government has put its chips on UOMO – now it must deliver. Farmers will be watching closely and will hold them to account.”

In August the NFF released its statement of expectations for the UOMO, stating it should:

• Enhance access to Triple Zero and emergency assistance across Australia;
• Support outdoor voice and SMS coverage in current mobile black spots;
• Improve network resilience, particularly during disasters and power outages;
• Deliver accessible, reliable, cost-effective, resilient and quality connectivity outcomes; and
• Complement but not replace existing connectivity infrastructure including the terrestrial network.

The Government is seeking views from industry, community stakeholders and the Australian public on the draft legislation by 19 October.