05 Aug 2026
Fifty UK Government-funded 4G masts have now been activated across Scotland through the Shared Rural Network (SRN), helping improve mobile connectivity in some of the country’s most remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The milestone marks significant progress in tackling long-standing mobile coverage challenges across rural Scotland, where mountainous terrain, remote islands and dispersed communities have made reliable connectivity more difficult and costly to deliver than in many other parts of the UK.
The Shared Rural Network is a partnership between the UK Government and the UK’s mobile network operators, designed to improve mobile coverage in rural areas across Great Britain. Through UK Government-funded upgrades, more than 1,900 square kilometres of rural Scotland now have 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators, covering an area larger than Edinburgh and Glasgow combined.
The 50th site was activated near Branault on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula in the West Highlands. The improved coverage will help residents, businesses and visitors stay connected, access online services and contact emergency services more easily, regardless of which mobile network they use.
Most of the work has involved upgrading existing infrastructure, helping to improve connectivity while minimising impacts on Scotland’s landscapes and natural beauty. The programme is delivering benefits across the country, from the Highlands and Outer Hebrides to Galloway and the Cairngorms.
Recent upgrades have improved coverage in a number of popular rural destinations, including the islands of Arran, Islay and Jura, Tarbert on the Kintyre 66 route, and Dukes Pass in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Improved mobile signal in these areas supports local businesses, particularly those linked to tourism and the outdoor economy, by helping them stay connected with customers, suppliers and employees.
Reliable mobile connectivity can be especially important in rural locations, enabling people to access services, stay in touch with family and colleagues, navigate safely and contact emergency services when needed. Better coverage also helps support economic growth by allowing businesses to operate more effectively and take advantage of digital opportunities.
UK telecoms minister Liz Lloyd said: “Scotland’s mountains, islands and remote rural communities have made it one of the hardest places in the UK to deliver reliable mobile coverage – but our investment is helping to change that.”
“By switching on dozens more 4G masts through the Shared Rural Network, we are tackling long-standing blackspots and giving more people across rural Scotland the coverage they need to stay in touch, run businesses and get help in an emergency.”
Across Great Britain, more than 140 UK Government-funded masts have now been activated through the Shared Rural Network. The programme focuses primarily on upgrading existing infrastructure, with new masts only being constructed where suitable infrastructure is not already available.
Alongside mobile improvements, the UK Government’s investment in gigabit-capable broadband has connected more than 153,000 homes and businesses in some of Scotland’s hardest-to-reach areas.
Ben Roome, CEO of Mova, said: “Good growth depends on good connectivity. Every community should be able to benefit from the opportunities that digital infrastructure creates, regardless of geography. Reaching 50 government-funded sites in Scotland means more people, businesses and visitors can stay connected, access services and participate fully in modern life.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: “Reaching 50 UK Government-funded masts in Scotland is a milestone for rural communities who have put up with poor or non-existent mobile signal for too long.”
“From the islands of Arran, Islay and Jura to the Trossachs and beyond, this investment is making a practical difference to people’s lives, whether that’s running a business, keeping in touch with loved ones, or getting help quickly in an emergency.”
“The Shared Rural Network is delivering for Scotland, and we’re not stopping here.”
For more information on the Shared Rural Network visit www.srn.org.uk
