Phone coverage deal promises better 4G for Highlands
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Highlanders and other rural residents across the UK are being told they can expect to say goodbye to phone coverage "not spots", thanks to a £1 billion investment.
The Shared Rural Network brings together the country’s main mobile operators and the UK Government to improve mobile reception in rural areas.
Uplifts in 4G coverage will allow people to seize the benefits of technology to stay connected, shop online and stream entertainment on the go. It will also power economic growth, helping people set up and run businesses from anywhere in the UK.
The agreement will see the biggest mobile network operators – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – sharing their masts to boost people’s mobile signals.
The Highlands and Islands, will be among the main beneficiaries and 4G coverage is expected to be accessible in 74 per cent of Scotland’s landmass by the end of the programme, up from just 42 per cent currently.
UK digital secretary Oliver Dowden said: “We’re putting connecting people across the UK at the heart of our plan to build back better, through huge uplifts to mobile coverage in rural areas and the rapid rollout of gigabit broadband.
“Today’s announcements will improve the lives of millions of people in rural parts of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, giving them the connections they need to work, access services and keep in touch – both at home and on the go.”
Network operators have already begun work as part of the deal to close the majority of partial not spots by mid-2024 and there have already been more than 700 sites announced so far this year to help close not spots across the UK.
In early 2022, the SRN programme will begin searching for, acquiring and building publicly funded masts in total not spots - areas that currently have no coverage from any operator - to be shared between all four MNOs.
Hamish MacLeod, director at Mobile UK, said: “The Shared Rural Network is a transformational project backed by a half a billion-pound investment from the mobile operators to extend coverage in rural areas across the country. Mobile operators have already started to deliver on this commitment, with new sites coming online in partial coverage areas.
"We are committed to providing a reliable 4G mobile signal to 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass and improving the experience for people living, working and travelling in rural areas.”
