The government has launched a £1 billion programme to level up digital connectivity. This scheme is a major part of the government’s levelling up plan, it will also bring economic and social benefits for people across the UK.
The biggest uplift in mobile coverage will be in rural Scotland, where there will be a significant boost in 4G coverage. The boost to 4G mobile coverage will see 74% of Scotland covered by all four mobile operators and 91% of Scottish landmass will also be in range of 4G signal. The largest 4G boost of all UK regions will be the Highlands and Islands, which will see coverage from all four operators increasing from 26% to 68%.
The Shared Rural Network (SRN) will see EE, O2, Three and Vodafone build and upgrade phone masts to end so-called partial not-spots: areas where only some, but not all, mobile network operators (MNOs) provide 4G coverage.These not-spots mean local people cannot connect unless they are signed up with a provider who has coverage in the area. The UK Government has today launched a consultation with the telecoms industry to identify any existing infrastructure which can be utilised to end total not spots, with the aim of improvement of efficiency.
Regions with higher proportions of rural areas benefit the most. Areas with coverage from all four operators will dial up by 26 per cent in South Scotland, 23 per cent in West Scotland and 20 per cent in North East Scotland. The SRN will bring an additional 280,000 premises and an additional 16,000 km of UK roads in the range of a 4G signal – increasing total geographic 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK by 2025.
New maps and figures published today show Scotland will benefit the most from the SRN. Coverage from all four MNOs to be delivered to 75% of Scotland’s landmass. This is an increase of a third and up from 42 per cent currently. The Highlands and Islands will see the largest uptick in coverage with a 42 per cent rise in areas with coverage from all four operators – the largest increase seen anywhere in the UK and bringing coverage from all four MNOs to 68 per cent. 4G coverage from at least one MNO will reach 91 per cent of the region’s landmass.
In a further boost to connectivity in Scotland, the Scottish Government also confirmed it can continue to provide up to £5,000 extra funding to top-up the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. This is in addition to the £1,500 available to rural homes and £3,500 available to rural small to medium-sized businesses.
UK Government Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said:
‘In today’s interconnected world, access to fast and reliable mobile coverage is not a privilege but a necessity, so I am delighted that our plans will bring a huge uplift in connectivity to many rural areas in Scotland. This will bring new opportunities to work remotely, improve people’s ability to stay in touch with family and friends, and stream entertainment on the go. Once the network is built, no government will have done more to amplify 4G coverage in Scotland. It demonstrates loud and clear how our plan to build back better is delivering for every part of the UK, no matter how rural or isolated.’