NSW a model for mobile infrastructure sharing

NSW’s neutral host and active sharing models for mobile infrastructure sharing could become the model for a national program, if the federal government adopts the recommendations of a new report into regional and remote mobile services.

The Connecting the country: Mission critical report [pdf] made the suggestion as one of 23 recommendations after an inquiry that first launched in September 2022.

The report recommends the federal government work with NSW “to develop more extensive trials of active infrastructure sharing solutions … including along road corridors and in remote Indigenous communities.”

NSW’ programs kicked off in August last year.

The report, by the House of Representatives communications and arts committee, suggests federal work start with the government “participating in future trials under the NSW government’s Active Sharing program.

“Outcomes could help inform the optimal way forward for federal telecommunications infrastructure investment,” it noted.

The report noted that while the federal mobile black spots program (MBSP) has delivered 1297 base stations generating revenue of $875 million since its inception, the program has overwhelmingly expanded Telstra’s network, with an only limited presence of other carriers on those towers.

Hence the report makes two recommendations about the MBSP: the program should undergo a 12-month review of its “policy intent, objectives, and guidelines”; and both the MBSP and Regional Connectivity program should fund “co-investment in trial sites to demonstrate the feasibility of technical and commercial models for multi-carrier mobile network sharing”.

Work on multi-carrier infrastructure deployment should be guided by a working group made up of “mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, regulatory bodies, and relevant government agencies”, the report also recommends.

A “practical” universal service obligation for mobile providers is also needed, and telcos should meet with NBN Co to work out how to co-locate telco infrastructure along renewable energy transmission routes currently under development.

Spectrum licensing should also be reviewed, along with license conditions to encourage active sharing and open access.