UK Shared Rural Network roll-out passes key target

<p>Over 150 4G mast upgrades are now live across the UK’s national parks, including the Yorkshire Dales and Eryri, Snowdonia, as part of the continued roll-out of the UK government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme that now has provided extended 4G coverage across over 5,684 square kilometres, in areas that previously only had limited access to mobile coverage or none at all.</p> <p>Launched in 2020, the <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252472883/UK-government-proposes-13bn-scheme-to-improve-rural-mobile-coverage">£1.3bn SRN scheme</a> is a joint initiative between the government and the UK’s mobile network operators – EE and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), as well as <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366633582/VodafoneThree-network-sharing-unlocks-significant-coverage-improvements">Three and Vodafone before their merger</a> – to extend 4G connectivity to 95% of the UK’s landmass by the end of 2025. The founding principle is that through both public and private investment, new and existing phone masts will be built or upgraded across the UK to close down so-called <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366558677/Stark-digital-comms-divide-between-UK-rural-and-urban-areas">rural mobile not-spots</a>.</p> <p>Under the scheme, the four operators committed to improving 4G coverage and levelling up connectivity across the UK, which has seen them invest in a shared network of new and existing phone masts, overseen by jointly owned company <a href="https://dmsluk.com/">Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited</a>. The operators’ £532m investment has been complemented by more than £501m in government funding.</p> <p>The SRN is also seeing UK government investment of £184m to upgrade extended area service (EAS) masts – originally built to support the <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366585817/CGI-selected-to-streamline-UK-ESN-programme">Emergency Services Network</a> – to provide coverage from all four mobile operators.</p> <p>Mobile operators have invested more than £500m to target “partial not-spots” across the UK, where customers can only access 4G if they are signed up with a mobile network operator that is active in the area.</p> <p>The government-funded 4G mast upgrades are delivered through existing infrastructure, and bring 4G coverage from EE, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone and Three UK to bolster connectivity in rural areas.</p> <p>The roll-out is intended to support accessing online public services, working more flexibly from home, running payments and bookings for local firms, and for holidaymakers accessing location data or calling for emergency assistance.</p> <div class="extra-info"> <div class="extra-info-inner"> <h3 class="splash-heading">Read more about the SRN</h3> <ul class="default-list"> <li><a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366640234/Shared-Rural-Network-expansion-removes-Islay-not-spots">Shared Rural Network expansion removes Islay not-spots</a>: Latest development in £1.3bn mobile expansion scheme sees mobile not-spots reduced on Scottish island as 4G site goes live, providing coverage from all mobile operators for the first time.</li> <li><a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366639807/Shared-Rural-Network-scheme-hits-mast-upgrade-milestone-in-Wales">Shared Rural Network scheme hits mast upgrade milestone in Wales</a>: Latest expansion of government’s £1.3bn mobile coverage scheme sees significant expansion of mast construction in rural parts of Wales from all four UK operators.</li> <li><a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366636722/UK-government-further-expands-rural-4G-coverage-through-SRN">UK government further expands rural 4G coverage through SRN</a>: Over 100 mobile masts have been upgraded across rural Wales, Scotland and England, delivering 4G coverage from all mobile network operators for the first time as part of an ongoing development scheme.</li> <li><a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366628346/North-Yorkshire-sees-4G-coverage-boost-through-SRN">North Yorkshire sees 4G coverage boost through SRN</a>: Expansion of £5bn UK mobile coverage scheme takes place in North Yorkshire to offer improved connectivity in and around market towns.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <p>Some 42 Shared Rural Network sites are now active across the UK’s national parks, including 25 sites in England covering areas such as the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, 16 sites in Wales including Eryri, and one site in Scotland in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. With this latest roll-out across the UK’s national parks, the Shared Rural Network programme has now hit its objective of extending 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass a year ahead of schedule.</p> <p>“Strengthening connectivity in rural areas is a key aspect of the UK's growth ambition, providing greater access to digital services, AI tools and streaming in hard-to-reach locations like the Yorkshire Dales and Eryri,” said Mike Hellers, product development manager at interconnection and colocation services firm <a title="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/tutLCOYEZruwynOZ2SvhB2hGpe08?domain=urldefense.com" href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/tutLCOYEZruwynOZ2SvhB2hGpe08?domain=urldefense.com">London Internet Exchange</a>.</p> <p>“As more communities gain access to reliable 4G coverage through the Shared Rural Network, efficient traffic exchange and keeping data as local as possible will become increasingly important in delivering the low-latency, resilient services people expect. Continued investment across the wider internet ecosystem will be essential to support growing demand and maximise the benefits of expanded mobile connectivity.”</p> <p>Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the <a title="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/bLnPCPNMYvtZkW6N5C1ilXhxYt9O?domain=urldefense.com" href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/bLnPCPNMYvtZkW6N5C1ilXhxYt9O?domain=urldefense.com">Digital Poverty Alliance</a>, added: “Connectivity continues to get taken for granted across the UK despite being something we all rely on so heavily. Rural communities, in particular, have long faced challenges as essential digital services such as healthcare, banking and education shift online, also having a knock-on impact on wider employment and access opportunities.</p> <p>“The government’s latest expansion of the Shared Rural Network roll-out is an important step in recognising the importance of reliable mobile and internet access to keep people connected in remote areas. Connectivity is a key component of digital inclusion, and the next step is ensuring people in Yorkshire have affordable and suitable devices for work and school, alongside the digital skills to use them effectively. These government initiatives set the tone for inclusivity in the UK’s regions.”</p>