$600m Broadband Connect Program for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile and the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced that the Australian Government will invest up to $600 million in rural, regional and remote Australia to encourage private sector rollouts of broadband infrastructure. This is the second phase of the $878 million Broadband Connect program which is part of the $1.1 billion Connect Australia package.

"The Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program will build on the billion dollar investment the Australian Government has already made in rural, regional and remote communications by encouraging the roll-out of large scale, sustainable and scalable networks across Australia," Senator Coonan said.

This second phase will support a small number of large scale infrastructure projects and leverage additional funding from the private sector and State and Territory Governments to extend the reach of broadband across rural, regional and remote Australia. Applicants are now invited to apply for funding under the Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program. Applications close on 30 November 2006.

The first phase of Broadband Connect is a per-customer subsidy paid to Internet Service Providers who connect customers in areas where a broadband connection is hard to get. This subsidy model has already resulted in more than one million extra broadband connections in Australia.

"Broadband infrastructure is the roads and railways of a modern 21st century economy. In regional Australia it can break down the tyranny of distance and help deliver essential health and education services through telemedicine and e-learning services," Senator Coonan said.

Proposals submitted under Broadband Connect can also seek funding under the $30 million Mobile Connect program to improve mobile phone coverage. The Government has also called for funding applications under the $113 million Clever Networks program to extend fast broadband networks for education and health initiatives.

Broadband Connect is one of four programs being delivered under Connect Australia, the Government's $1.1 billion regional telecommunications package. The Government intends to use the substantial funding it has allocated under the Connect Australia package to revitalise communities in rural, regional and remote Australia.