The Government has established the Telecommunications Authority (Telco Authority) within the Department of Services, Technology and Administration. The Telco Authority will aim to achieve improved levels of service delivery for government mobile radio users through a more integrated and more cost efficient delivery of mobile radio infrastructure and services.

In order to drive greater operational effectiveness and cost efficiency, all NSW Government owned mobile radio service network infrastructure, assets and associated budget allocations will be vested in the Telco Authority, unless it can be demonstrated by the releasing agency that this would not be appropriate.

The Telco Authority will be overseen by a Board which will report to a Cabinet Committee. The Telco Authority is comprised of staff from the Department of Services, Technology and Administration and staff from other government departments and entities which utilise radio services.

The Board will consist of a mix of independent advisors and members representing key government sectors.

The Telco Authority will:

1. develop a sector-wide policy framework for mobile radio and related services, in consultation with affected agencies, including spectrum acquisition and allocation.
2. undertake a comprehensive audit of existing mobile radio infrastructure and an operational needs assessment and, in consultation with affected agencies and the local government sector, develop a state-wide strategy and an implementation plan for government mobile radio services that addresses:
   • mobile radio service standardisation;
   • network rationalisation;
   • centralised acquisition and maintenance of assets, including infrastructure and equipment refresh cycles for all networks;
   • coverage provisioning to growth areas;
   • funding challenges in meeting future demands, including assisting affected agencies to move to alternate technologies where appropriate; and
   • escalation arrangements via the recommended governance mechanisms to ensure that unresolved issues are considered by the appropriate level of decision-makers, including to a Cabinet Committee level.
3. provide mobile radio network services in the following priority order:
   • consolidate the GRN and the New South Wales Police Force’s (NSWPF) conventional networks within the GRN metropolitan footprint;
   • consolidate agencies’ conventional networks operating outside the GRN footprint, with a focus on emergency and essential (utilities) services;
   • integrate the consolidated conventional networks and the consolidated GRN/ NSWPF network to create a single state-wide mobile radio service.
4. provide mobile radio network services (infrastructure, sites and other elements as appropriate) on cost-recovery principles, charging tariffs based on the number of handsets able to be used on each network (SOCs would fund their own networks or utilise the NSW Government’s network(s) on a commercial basis); and
5. manage, in accordance with user service requirements, all NSW Government mobile radio network assets, infrastructure, equipment and other capital (with the exception of assets vested in SOCs and Local Government, unless mutually agreed with the Telco Authority).

At any one time, the supply of electromagnetic spectrum is relatively static, while the demand for it is rapidly increasing. Much of the demand is commercially driven, making spectrum a valuable resource. In order to maximise availability of spectrum for appropriate agencies in NSW, it is critical that spectrum is allocated where a genuine operational requirement is evident.

Furthermore, the Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) has proposed to allocate a specified quantum of spectrum in the 403-430MHz and 450-470MHz bands for the use of state and territory governments, primarily, but not exclusively, for law enforcement and public safety purposes.

To ensure appropriate allocation of spectrum, all negotiations with ACMA in relation to mobile radio frequency allocation on behalf of any NSW Government agency will now be conducted by the Telco Authority and agencies are not permitted to approach ACMA directly on spectrum and related matters.

This approach will ensure that a coordinated and strategic approach to radio spectrum allocation is undertaken by the NSW public sector.

Kristina Keneally MP
Premier