The UK government has announced that 30 mobile mast upgrades, funded under the Shared Rural Network (SRN), have been activated, with 21 sites going live in Wales, five in Scotland, and four in England.
Launched in 2020, the GBP 1.3 billion SRN initiative is a collaboration between the UK’s four major mobile network operators—EE, VMO2, Three, and Vodafone—alongside the government. The program aims to extend 4G coverage to 95% of the UK’s landmass by the end of 2025 by upgrading and constructing phone masts to eliminate rural connectivity gaps.
“Thanks to the Shared Rural Network, we are not only improving the quality of life for communities in these remote areas of Britain, but also creating more opportunities for local businesses, boosting tourism and helping emergency services to save lives,” noted Telecoms Minister, Chris Bryant.
Related: The State of Full-Fiber, Superfast, Satellite Broadband in the UK
Enhancing Rural Connectivity
The four operators have collectively invested GBP 532 million into the project, which is supported by over GBP 501 million in government funding. The initiative, managed by Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), seeks to enhance 4G coverage for an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000 km of UK roads. It also aims to improve 4G availability in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from 51% to 79% and in National Parks from 41% to 74%, benefiting millions of visitors annually.
Read More: Scottish 4G Infill Connects Over 2,000 Rural Locations
Since its inception, the SRN program has expanded 4G coverage from all four operators across 34,000 km²—an area twice the size of Northern Ireland. Additionally, the government is investing GBP 184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts, ensuring all four networks provide apt coverage to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
Among the latest deployments is a new mast in North York Moors National Park, which is enhancing connectivity for rural communities in Northeast Yorkshire, including Helmsley, Harome, Great Edstone, and Cold Kirby. Previously, only EE customers and emergency 999 calls had reliable access to 4G in the area.