Businesses in Gippsland can now apply for grant funding through the Australian 5G Innovation Initiative, to trial commercial uses of 5G technology.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the initiative would help small to large businesses in Gippsland test and develop 5G uses, applications, services and products.
“This investment will encourage a more rapid deployment of 5G technology, support investment in telecommunications infrastructure and create jobs,” Mr Chester said.
“The initiative supports testing of 5G uses through case studies of successful trials and will showcase how businesses can adopt 5G solutions.”
Mr Chester is encouraging Gippsland businesses to look at how 5G can benefit them and apply for funding through this initiative.
“Whether it is the use of sophisticated sensors on farm animals to provide information about their welfare in real time or using 5G in factories to monitor machinery to detect faults and do maintenance, reducing breakdowns and increasing efficiency,” Mr Chester said.
An online noticeboard is available to help businesses to connect with other organisations interested in partnering to deliver projects as part of the initiative.
Businesses can add project ideas and short descriptions to the noticeboard, or find potential 5G projects they want to partner with and start a discussion with the project owner.A total of $10 million is available under the initiative, with businesses able to apply for between $100,000 and $2 million in grant funding.
Applications for the grant round open on 19 February 2021 and close at 5pm on 31 March 2021.
More information, including the notice board and how to apply, is available at www.communications.gov.au/5GInitiative