Over 100 Rural Mobile Masts Upgraded To Improve 4G Coverage

The government has announced a major milestone in improving mobile connectivity across rural Britain, with more than 100 mobile masts now upgraded to provide 4G coverage from all major mobile network operators for the first time.

Delivered through the Shared Rural Network (SRN), the upgrades span rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales, including 44 sites in Wales, 33 in Scotland and 28 in England. The improved infrastructure is expected to benefit over 400 rural businesses, supporting more reliable mobile coverage for day-to-day operations such as contactless payments, online bookings and customer communications.

The upgraded masts are predicted to deliver outdoor 4G coverage from all mobile networks across more than 4,000 square kilometres of the UK. Coverage improvements also extend to parts of 10 national parks, as well as rural roads and isolated communities that have previously experienced persistent mobile ‘not-spots’.

The Shared Rural Network is a partnership between the UK Government and mobile network operators, designed to tackle both total and partial mobile not-spots in rural areas. The programme has exceeded its original landmass coverage target and will continue until January 2027, with further government-funded mast upgrades and new mast builds planned.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

Improved mobile connectivity is essential infrastructure for rural communities, underpinning access to public services, supporting local economies, and helping people stay connected regardless of where they live. As highlighted in the Rural Services Network’s Delivering for All roadmap, targeted investment in rural digital connectivity must be accompanied by fair funding, better rural-level data, and policies designed around rural realities, not one-size-fits-all assumptions.

Every person, in every place, deserves reliable digital connectivity and sustained progress will depend on ensuring that rural areas remain a clear priority as rollout continues.