UK Reaches Milestone in Rural Connectivity

The UK government announced that 50 rural sites were upgraded to provide all mobile operators with shared access covering 4G services. Benefits for locals and tourists were predicted by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DIST) as part of the ongoing Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative.

It stated the 50 masts were previously owned solely by EE, while also asserting more than half of them are providing new coverage to areas of outstanding natural beauty or national parks. Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms Chris Bryant said the upgrade is a major step forward for better connectivity for all corners of the UK, meaning everyone can reap the benefits.

The government pointed to potential safety benefits for people engaging in outdoor activities. It also emphasized upgrading existing sites to limit the visual impact of bolstering network availability. Operators finalized the SRN agreement in 2020, involving commitments to expand access by deploying sites individually, which the other companies would then be able to access. The government is targeting completion of a further 50 site upgrades by March 2026.