The NSW Government – acting for all state and territory governments and the Commonwealth – is leading the charge to develop Australia’s long-promised national mobile broadband network for emergency services, which has been brought forward.

TPG Telecom, Optus and Nokia have been selected to deliver the first feasibility trial.

The trial will be used to develop and test technology aimed at helping shape the eventual design of the nationwide public safety mobile broadband (PSMB) capability for emergency situations.

Under the trial, TPG Telecom has been appointed the lead mobile network operator.

David Littleproud.

Federal emergency management minister David Littleproud said that the platform would “cut across organisation and geographical boundaries”, ensuring emergency service workers can communicate reliably during disasters.

“One of the lessons from the Black Summer bushfires was the critical importance of communications staying connected and getting access to information to make decisions that can save lives,” Littleproud said.