Seeking information from the telecommunications industry, local government bodies and advocacy groups regarding the Regional Roads Australia Mobile Program (RRAMP)

Market Sounding Objectives

The Department of Government Services (DGS) is conducting this Market Sounding to:

• Provide organisations and stakeholders with information concerning the Victorian RRAMP (‘the Program’) objectives and timelines
• Offer telecommunications carriers, suppliers, local and other government bodies and advocacy groups the opportunity to identify priority locations and solutions and supply DGS relevant information that may inform a subsequent market approach for services thereby improving the outcomes of the Program.

Organisations may respond to this Market Sounding by answering the questions at ‘Part B Registrant’s Response.’

Organisations may respond to all questions or part thereof.

Note: Some questions are only applicable to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs).

DGS may, in its sole discretion, seek clarification of responses with individual registrants where further information is required. Clarifications may also be used to inform future market engagement.

The Opportunity

The Victorian Government has been awarded $8 million from the Commonwealth Government to pilot commercial and technical solutions to improve multi-carrier mobile coverage on identified major highways and roads in rural and regional Victoria. DGS has primary responsibility for delivering the Program and aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. Support regional industries and communities that utilise or are adjacent to regional roads

2. Facilitate multi-carrier solutions

3. Improve the continuity of mobile coverage to provide access to essential services, such as:

• Triple Zero
• Mobile data-dependent services, such as heavy vehicle tracking and navigation

4. Improve digital resilience in case of emergencies

5. Explore new collaborative models of telecommunications delivery

6. Seek to pilot emerging technologies and operating models that may deliver greater efficiencies, for example:

• Active sharing of infrastructure
• Use of alternative backhaul (e.g. Low Earth Orbit Satellite)
• Innovative power solutions
• Operating models that will lower the deployment cost of multi-carrier services.

Questions about the program can be raised through the Buying for Victoria portal.