Highlands to benefit from improvements to 4G network coverage
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OVER 80 locations in the Highlands are to have their 4G network coverage improved by June 2024. The announcement was made by British mobile network operator and internet service provider, EE which is part of the BT Group.
The Highlands will be one of 624 areas across Scotland to benefit from the bid to improve rural connectivity as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme – an agreement between the UK’s four mobile network operators and UK Government to extend 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK. So far 265 areas have already been upgraded since the deal was signed last year. A further 359 upgrades are to follow as EE invests to significantly reduce ‘partial not-spots’ by 2024. All sites have been made available for other operators to share under the SRN scheme.
The 624 rural locations which will get 4G upgrades between now and June 2024, include 83 in the Highlands, 36 in Aberdeenshire, 33 in Argyll and Bute, 28 in Scottish Borders, 27 in Dumfries and Galloway, 24 in Perth and Kinross
18 in South Lanarkshire and eight in Shetland.
Philip Jansen, chief executive of BT Group, said: "We’ve made a renewed commitment to boost rural connectivity, helping improve mobile performance regardless of location. The investment BT has made in rural areas means we have the infrastructure in place to extend our 4G coverage footprint even further, minimising the number of new sites we need to build to ensure everyone has access to reliable connectivity.
"EE is still the only provider of 4G coverage in many places across the UK, and we encourage other operators to recognise the opportunity sharing our sites offers to fill gaps in their networks."
Bob Carruth, NFU Scotland’s communications director, said: "For modern farming businesses to fulfil their potential, fast, reliable connectivity is crucial. The ability to manage both mainstream farming activities, and any diversified income stream from mobile phones, is a key element to success. The delivery of significant improvements in 4G coverage in rural parts of Scotland will be welcomed by those who live and work in Scotland’s countryside."
UK Government Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said: "We know the incredible impact better connectivity will have on countryside communities. That's why we struck a £1 billion deal, jointly funded by the government and mobile firms, to bring fast and reliable 4G mobile coverage to 95 per cent of the UK.
"EE's plans show good progress and will increase choice for consumers and boost productivity in rural areas. We will continue to work closely with them to close down further gaps in rural mobile signal."
Across the UK, 853 areas have already been upgraded since the SRN deal was signed – 449 in England, 265 in Scotland, 97 in Wales, and 42 in Northern Ireland. EE has pledged to extend 4G in a further 1,532 locations across the UK by mid-2024 – 925 in England, 359 in Scotland, 125 in Northern Ireland, and 123 in Wales – totalling 2,385.
