Public Safety Networks need more coverage and capability
The 2019-2020 bushfires highlighted some coverage and capability limitations in Australia's public safety communications networks. There are gaps because of sparse coverage in regional areas and an inability to use data services over traditional two-way digital radio services.
Australia needs policies and processes that make it easier to restore telecommunications services and support first responders. For example, emergency services rely on access to network asset data. The telecommunications industry should provide standardised, aggregated, real-time network incident data to help emergency services and other infrastructure operators respond more quickly and efficiently.
State and territory infrastructure bodies and emergency services should invest further in increasing coverage of Public Safety Networks, with emergency services given the ability to use data services to better deal with emergencies and natural disasters alongside more effective integration between jurisdiction-based systems.
States and territories are currently developing a proof-of-concept trial to use spectrum offered by the Australian Government to provide Public Safety Mobile Broadband for Australia's emergency services.
Investments should also be considered in non-traditional technologies that can provide first responders with the capabilities they need. These include satellite connectivity technologies, 4G technology and low-frequency solutions that can provide 'push-to-talk' capabilities as well as the ability to send and receive packet data.
| 7.1 Recommendation Ensure every Australian can rely on digital services by providing transparency of the resilience of Australia's telecommunications infrastructure. Proposed Sponsor: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | ||||
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| 7.1.1 Enable emergency services and network operators to better respond to emergencies by classifying telecommunications as an essential service and continue to develop management policies such as infrastructure protection, risk planning and vegetation management. Proposed lead: Department of Home Affairs Supported by: State and territory emergency services, telecommunications network operators - fixed and mobile | |||
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| Create a clear legislative framework for improved policies and processes for state and territory governments and network operators to plan, manage and provide resilient services by consistently classifying telecommunications as an essential service in state and territory emergency management legislation. Proposed lead: State and territory Attorneys-General Supported by: State and territory resilience agencies | |||
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| Increase preparedness for dealing with outages caused by natural disasters with clearly defined plans to address power resilience and back-up power for telecommunications sites. Proposed lead: National Recovery and Resilience Agency Supported by: State and territory resilience agencies | |||
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| Protect communities from lost power and communications outages caused by emergencies, with a roadmap for Australia's energy networks to introduce more power line shielding and line undergrounding in areas at high risk of disaster. Proposed lead: Critical Infrastructure Centre and Department of Home Affairs | |||
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| 7.1.2 Empower and educate consumers by providing easy-to-understand information about the reliability and performance of all fixed and mobile networks through a public web portal, with scores available at point of sale. Proposed lead: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | |||
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| Give consumers and businesses comprehensive, easy-to-understand information about network reliability and other key network features by further improving the Measuring Broadband Australia tool to include more reliability measures and simplifying the format of measurements presented as a grading system. Proposed lead: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | |||
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| 7.1.3 Protect communities from emergencies by developing a comprehensive response and recovery plan, investing in tools, hardware and networks for use by state and territory governments, emergency services and industry. Proposed lead: State and territory resilience departments | |||
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| Protect lives in high-risk bushfire areas with improved cut-through for emergency alert warning system national emergency broadcast messages through the introduction of Emergency Cell Broadcasting across all mobile operators. Proposed lead: Australian Communications and Media Authority Supported by: Telecommunications network operators - mobile | |||
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| Enable network operators and state and territory emergency services to better respond and make better decisions during emergencies by creating a system that enables two-way, real-time access to emergency data and standardised network asset information. Proposed lead: Telecommunications network operators - fixed and mobile Supported by: State and territory emergency services | |||
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| Improve resilience and coverage in high-risk areas and along evacuation routes with new investment in programs such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and the Mobile Network Hardening Program. The investment should prioritise improved mobile coverage and mobile network resilience in areas prone to natural disasters such as bushfires. Proposed lead: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Supported by: Telecommunications network operators - mobile | |||
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| Provide emergency services with more coverage and more capability for national public safety networks through a coordinated network expansion plan and capability strategy for improving coverage, capacity and the ability to transmit data. Proposed lead: State and territory resilience agencies Supported by: Department of Home Affairs | |||
Measuring progress
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| Emergency broadcast Percentage of Australian, state and territory governments that classify telecommunications as an essential service | ||
| Quality | Target: 100% | Timeframe: |
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| Telecoms as an essential service Percentage coverage of Emergency Cell Broadcasting across mobile operators | ||
| Access | Target: 100% | Timeframe: |
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| Public Safety Network interoperability Interoperability of communications for emergency services across jurisdictions | ||
| Access | Target: 100% | Timeframe: |
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