The works on the 100 masts will deliver “outdoor 4G signal coverage to over 4,000km2 of the UK – an area equivalent to 2.5 times the size of Greater London, or 9,600 Hyde Park Winter Wonderlands.” according to the release.
The £1.3 billion SRN programme launched in 2020 to deliver mobile coverage across the UK from at least one operator is already running ahead of its original target having made 4G mobile coverage available to 95% of the UK. Today, this upgrade counts in all mobile network operators and is hailed as a milestone-achieved as part of the government’s goal to “end mobile total-not-spots”.
“More of Britain’s rural communities are finally getting the connection they’ve been waiting for as we deck the hills with 4G coverage.” said Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd. “These 100 upgraded masts mean businesses can ring up sales, families can video call their loved ones this Christmas without buffering mid-conversation, and our beautiful rural areas can attract the investment, jobs and tourism they need to thrive.
“Whether you’re in the Welsh valleys, the Scottish Highlands, or England’s national parks – rural communities are finally getting the connections they deserve, boosting opportunity and growth as we drive forward plans for national renewal.”
Ben Roome, CEO of Mova, the SRN delivery partner added: “Christmas is a time for connection and this year more rural communities than ever can share that spirit. With the 100th site activated, in Llanfair on the border between England and Wales, these publicly funded masts can connect families, friends and businesses across a cumulative area of over 4,000 square kilometres, irrespective of mobile provider.
“This achievement is testament to what can be accomplished when government and industry work together. Since the Shared Rural Network began, 4G coverage from all four operators has grown from 66% to over 81% of the UK, an increase equivalent to the size of Wales and Northern Ireland combined.”
Looking ahead, the programme will continue to deliver 85 government funded mast upgrades planned across the country by January 2027 and up to 44 new publicly funded masts which will be built across Scotland, the first of which is already live in the Western Isles.
Source: https://www.telecoms.com/5g-6g/srn-boosts-4g-coverage-across-100-more-rural-masts-in-the-uk
