Virgin Media O2 has reached a significant milestone in the Shared Rural Network program by upgrading/building 100 company-managed sites, giving residents, businesses, and visitors in rural communities faster and more reliable mobile coverage than ever before.
The achievement means Virgin Media O2 has expanded further than any other operator to date in delivering new infrastructure as part of the SRN program. Virgin Media O2 controls these 100 sites, but Three and Vodafone customers also benefit from the operator's extensive rollout. Taking into account the progress of Three and Vodafone, Virgin Media O2 customers can now enjoy reliable 4G services in 146 rural areas.
The Isle of Skye, Scotland's second-largest island, became the 100th site to benefit from improved mobile connectivity after Virgin Media O2 used helicopters to deliver and install new 4G masts on the island.
The SRN is a GBP 1 billion joint initiative between mobile network operators and the UK government that aims to bring 4G connectivity to 95% of the country's landmass by the end of 2025.
Tackling the Urban-Rural Digital Divide
To date, Virgin Media O2 has constructed/enhanced 100 sites in rural locations. Among these, 78 are situated in Scotland's most secluded regions such as Shetland, Ardross, and Argyll and Bute. Additionally, 19 sites have been developed in rural areas of England, spanning regions like Yorkshire, Suffolk, and Kent, with three more located in Northern Ireland.
The upgrades provide customers with faster and more reliable mobile data as well as higher-quality voice calls, transforming coverage in areas where services were previously patchy or slow.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said, “We’re going to extreme lengths connecting the most remote corners of the UK to deliver our share of the Shared Rural Network."
“This investment is vital to ensure we provide fast and reliable coverage to all areas of the UK. With so much of our modern life taking place online, rural communities deserve the same standard of mobile connectivity as those in urban areas, and we’re proud to be stepping up and playing our part," York added. “The 100 sites we have delivered will mean that more residents, businesses and visitors in rural areas can benefit from better mobile coverage, with more locations to follow in the coming months. This work is vital in tackling the urban-rural digital divide that exists in the UK.”
One of the main factors contributing to this divide is the cost of deploying digital infrastructure in rural areas, which tends to be higher due to lower population densities and challenging terrain. Bridging the urban-rural digital divide requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration between government, industry, and local communities. This may include targeted investment in rural infrastructure, policy interventions to incentivize private sector investment, and community-led initiatives to improve digital literacy and adoption in rural areas.
