4G coverage boost for 1,900 sq km of rural Scotland

UK Government-funded mast upgrades now provide 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators across more than 1,900 sq km of rural Scotland, an area larger than Edinburgh and Glasgow combined.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced on Thursday (9 July) that 50 government-funded 4G masts have now been switched on across Scotland through the Shared Rural Network, a partnership between the UK Government and mobile network operators to improve signal in rural areas across Great Britain.

The 50th mast went live near Branault, a remote West Highland settlement on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The upgrade means that residents, visitors and businesses in the area can now access 4G regardless of which network they use.

Recent upgrades cover popular destinations including the isles of Arran, Islay and Jura, Dukes Pass in Trossachs National Park and Tarbert on the Kintyre 66 route. The full list of 50 sites spans the Highlands, Galloway, the Cairngorms and the Outer Hebrides, with clusters on Skye, Mull and in the Scottish Borders.

Scotland is the least connected of the UK’s four nations, according to coverage predictions submitted to Ofcom by mobile network operators, with its remote islands, scattered communities and mountainous terrain making upgrades more complex and costly than elsewhere.

Since the programme launched, 4G coverage in Scotland from at least one operator has increased from 80% in 2019 to 90%, with 91% expected by the end of the programme. Coverage from all four operators has risen from 41% to 71%.

UK Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd said Scotland’s mountains, islands and remote communities have made it one of the hardest places in the UK to deliver reliable mobile coverage.

“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,” Lloyd said.

Almost all of the upgrades were made to existing masts rather than new builds to limit the visual impact on Scotland’s landscapes. The masts were originally built by the Home Office for the Emergency Services Network and have been upgraded to carry commercial signal from all UK operators.

Ben Roome, Chief Executive of Mova, which represents the four operators on the programme, said good growth depends on good connectivity.

“Reaching 50 government-funded sites in Scotland means more people, businesses and visitors can stay connected, access services and participate fully in modern life,” Roome said.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said the milestone matters for rural communities “who have put up with poor or non-existent mobile signal for too long”.

Full list of areas

Here is the full list of the 50 upgraded mast locations:

Now read: Non-compete clauses trap 28% of UK workers – and it’s dragging down wages