Tourists and hikers exploring the UK’s most renowned beauty spots and national parks can now benefit from a huge boost in mobile coverage, helping them plan routes and receive live weather updates for safer outdoor adventures.
Over 50 mobile masts, initially only used to connect EE customers and those calling 999, have now been upgraded to provide coverage from all mobile network operators, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said in a statement on Wednesday 28 May. It added that upgrades were done to limit the visual and natural impact on the environment, causing less disruption to the surrounding areas.
In total, the masts cover a footprint equivalent to the size of 66,470 football pitches, and over half of them are providing new coverage to areas of outstanding natural beauty or national parks.
“The upgrades will benefit thousands of local residents and many more visiting the surrounding areas, bringing fast and reliable 4G networks to remote communities previously plagued by poor signal. This will support local tourism and economic growth.”
The British areas set to benefit from the boost include:
- The North York Moors National Park;
- Parts of the Southern Upland Way;
- The Shropshire Hills.
Areas in Scotland which will benefit include:
- Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber;
- Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock;
- Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk;
- Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
50 more government-funded sites in England, Wales and Scotland are also being targeted for upgrades by March 2026.
“The growth potential of our areas of outstanding natural beauty must not be stunted by patchy internet,” said Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant.
“This milestone is a major step forward for better connectivity for all corners of the UK, meaning everyone can reap the benefits of the digital age. From boosting tourism and business opportunities to providing safer outdoor experiences for visitors to our treasured countryside.”
The rollout is part of the Shared Rural Network programme led by the UK Government and mobile network operators to improve connectivity in rural communities across Britain.
Since the Shared Rural Network began, coverage from all four operators has grown from 66% to 81% of the UK, an increase the size of Wales and Northern Ireland combined.
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