In a bid to attract the majority of public funds available under the scheme, which is aimed at developing new 5G use‑cases, TPG Telecom, Optus, and Telstra each warned against thinking small. Underlining their position that 5G use‑case testing was best left to the watchful eye of ‘experts’ — and no doubt to try and provide some immunity against the charge they are simply out to grab the funds for themselves in an unhelpful and non-collegiate way — the trio emphasised the importance of industry partnerships, involving MNOs, as the most suitable type of applicant to receive taxpayers’ money.
all the apparent nervousness among MNOs, as they wait to see how funds will be allocated, the amount of taxpayers’ money up for grabs is comparatively small. The Australian 5G Innovation Initiative, which is designed to support trials of new 5G uses that will drive productivity and growth across Australia in agriculture, mining, retail, medical technology, construction, and manufacturing, only has AU $21m (£11.9m/€13.2m) to play with. There are two rounds of funding scheduled, each worth around AU $10m, with the first due for allocation in the first quarter of 2021. Funded projects, says local media, are likely to fall into the AU $500,000 to AU $1m bracket. The 5G scheme is part of a wider, AU$800m project undertaken by the Australian government to try and enable businesses to take advantage of digital technologies to grow their businesses and create jobs as part of an economic recovery plan.