This instrument is the Telecommunications (Mobile Network Coverage Maps) Industry Standard 2026.
2 Commencement
Note: This instrument commences at the start of the day after the day it is registered.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 125AA(1) of the Act and in accordance with the Direction.
Note: The Direction was given to the ACMA by the Minister under subsection 125AA(4) of the Act. The Direction can be accessed, free of charge, on the Federal Register of Legislation: www.legislation.gov.au.
4 Application and purpose
(1) For the purpose of subsection 125AA(1) of the Act, this instrument applies to the section of the telecommunications industry consisting of:
(a) Mobile Network Operators; and
(b) Mobile Virtual Network Operators;
that supply Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Services.
(2) This instrument:
(a) deals with the preparation and publication of mobile network coverage maps by Mobile Network Operators and Mobile Virtual Network Operators that represent to the public, their customers and prospective customers, network coverage information about the Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Services which they supply or offer to supply; and
(b) is intended to give effect to the objectives set out in subsection 7(1) of the Direction.
5 Definitions
(1) In this instrument:
4G means fourth generation cellular telecommunications network technology.
Note: 4G uses technologies such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) that conform to the ‘International Mobile Telecommunications’ or IMT framework developed by the International Telecommunication Union and implemented through technical specifications developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). More information about IMT and 3GPP could, at the time of making this instrument, be accessed, free of charge, from the International Telecommunication Union’s website at www.itu.int and from the 3GPP’s website at www.3gpp.org.
5G means fifth generation cellular telecommunications network technology.
Note: 5G uses technologies such as New Radio (NR) that conform to the ‘International Mobile Telecommunications’ or IMT framework developed by the International Telecommunication Union and implemented through technical specifications developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). More information about IMT and 3GPP could, at the time of making this instrument, be accessed, free of charge, from the International Telecommunication Union’s website at and from the 3GPP’s website at .
Part Part 1 - Telecommunications (Mobile Network Coverage Maps) Industry Standard 2026 - Preliminary | Zoe
AMSA means the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Custodian has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.
customer means a person who has an agreement with a Mobile Network Operator or a Mobile Virtual Network Operator for the supply of a Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Service.
Direction means the Telecommunications (Mobile Network Coverage Maps) Direction 2025.
emergency service organisation has the same meaning as in subsection 147(11) of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.
mobile network coverage map: see subsection 7(1).
Mobile Network Operator means a carrier or carriage service provider that operates a telecommunications network to supply Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Services.
Mobile Virtual Network Operator means a carriage service provider, other than a Mobile Network Operator, who supplies Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Services.
network coverage information, for a mobile network coverage map: see subsections 7(3) and (4).
NSW Telco Authority means the New South Wales Government Telecommunications Authority established by the Government Telecommunications Act 2018 (NSW).
Note: The Government Telecommunications Act 2018 (NSW) could, at the time of making this instrument, be accessed free of charge from the NSW legislation website at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au.
predictive coverage modelling assumptions means:
(a) the signal-strength coverage thresholds for 4G and 5G outdoor mobile phone coverage specified in Table 1 in Part 1 of Schedule 1; and
(b) the standardised modelling assumptions (methodology parameters and associated values) specified in Table 2 in Part 1 of Schedule 1.
Predictive Coverage Modelling Methodology: see subsection (2).
Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Service has the same meaning as in the Direction.
retail customer means a customer who is not a wholesale customer.
RF link budget calculation means the calculation of predicted signal strength using analytical techniques that account for gains and losses along the communications path from a radiocommunications transmitter to a radiocommunications receiver.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines means:
(a) the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, published by the World Wide Web Consortium; or
(b) guidelines published by the World Wide Web Consortium which are expressed to extend, replace or supersede the guidelines described in paragraph (a).
Note: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 could, at the time of making this instrument, be accessed free of charge on the website of the World Wide Web Consortium: www.w3.org. The World Wide Web Consortium is commonly known as the W3C.
wholesale customer means a customer who is a carrier or carriage service provider.
Note 1: A wholesale customer, such as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, may be supplied a Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Service by a Mobile Network Operator without being an end-user of the service.
Note: Example: A Mobile Network Operator supplies a Relevant Mobile Telecommunications Service to a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. The Mobile Virtual Network Operator is not an end-user of the Service, but supplies that Service to end-users,
Note 2: A number of other expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:
(2) In this instrument, a method for estimating the extent and quality of radiofrequency coverage provided by a telecommunications network in a geographical area is a Predictive Coverage Modelling Methodology if the method:
(a) involves the application of RF link budget calculations to predict signal performance; and
(b) generates predictive coverage maps;
under conditions defined in the method.
6 References to other instruments
In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:
(a) a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time; and
(b) a reference to any other kind of instrument or writing is a reference to that other instrument or writing as in force or existing from time to time.
Note 1: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.
Note 2: All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.