The below is the opening statement by National Farmers' Federation's Telecommunications Committee Chair, Peter Thompson, who appeared at the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 on Monday, 20 April, 2026.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear today.
For rural, regional, and remote Australians, mobile connectivity is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. It underpins safety, productivity, economic participation, and access to essential services such as health, education, and emergency services.
The NFF strongly supports the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO). We stood beside the former minister as it was announced a year ago. But now we need to ensure that the UOMO delivers on its promise.
That promise is the ability to send a text message, make a call, and in future, use limited data, from wherever you can see the sky.
That promise is reliable access to mobile connectivity for Australians in regional, rural and remote areas - many of whom have never been able to depend on that coverage before.
The promise of UOMO is about calling 000 when you're in need and trusting that call won't drop out. It's being able to text your colleagues, your family, when you're out in the paddock or the bush.
It's a world-leading promise, and that's why it's important that we get it right.
Getting it right means making sure that UOMO delivers reliable performance - with clear minimum performance standards that are enforceable and can be updated as technology evolves. It means ensuring UOMO is truly universal by making sure that everyone can access it - regardless of whether they're on a pre-paid or post-paid plan, and regardless of whether they are with a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) like Telstra or Optus or with a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) like Aldi or Amaysim.
We know that satellite to mobile (STM) or direct to device (D2D) technology that underpins UOMO won't be a silver bullet for regional connectivity problems. It's a new technology that's untested and rapidly evolving. It has limitations – it won't guarantee connection when you're driving a truck or inside a building. It's certainly not going to allow you to livestream Question Time or Muster Dogs.
People will need the right device. They'll also need the right advice. This technology is complex and confusing. Making sure that people know their options, know what the UOMO guarantees, and know how that fits into their other connectivity needs is essential. That's why it's so important that the Regional Tech Hub is re-funded, so it can provide that free, independent and trusted advice to help people navigate UOMO when it arrives. Last year, 28,000 regional Australians received direct connectivity support from the Regional Tech Hub. That's more than 75 people each day. But funding runs out on June 30. We need the Hub to continue so it's there to help people when UOMO arrives.
Happy to answer questions.
