Labor Proposes Universal Mobile Coverage Across Australia by 2027

The plan leverages low-earth orbit satellites to eliminate mobile black spots and improve public safety in remote areas.

Labor's Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) would require telcos to provide outdoor mobile coverage across an additional five million square kilometers of Australia, including 37,000km of rural roads.
The initiative aims to ensure mobile access for voice and SMS services in remote areas via low-earth orbit satellites, benefiting regions with limited or no reception.
The policy is designed to enhance public safety, improve emergency response capabilities, and increase resilience during natural disasters by guaranteeing mobile access anywhere under the sky.
Concerns have been raised about reliance on foreign satellite providers like Elon Musk's Starlink, with experts advocating for Australia to develop sovereign satellite capabilities to ensure independence.
If re-elected, Labor plans to legislate the proposal in 2025, with full implementation expected by late 2027, complementing existing mobile black spot and network hardening programs.