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The UK Government has this morning revealed that a total of 58 government-funded rural 4G (mobile broadband) mast upgrades have now gone live as part of the industry-led £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) project. The most recent additions have occurred around the North Yorkshire town of Hawes – also impacting Hardraw, Appersett, Snaizeholme and Sedbusk.
The SRN – originally supported by £501m of public funding from the government and £532m of private investment from UK network operators – involves both the reciprocal sharing of existing masts in certain areas and the demand-led building and sharing of new masts in others between the operators. The project recently succeeded (here) in extending geographic 4G coverage from ‘at least one operator’ to 95% of the UK, but it will continue to expand until the start of 2027.
Most of the early work on this project typically involved private investment from the main mobile network operators, but over the past two years we’ve also seen government-funded mast upgrades and new site builds taking place in other parts of the country.
This phase of the work focuses on the part of the SRN that sees the government providing a total of £184m from their pot to the Home Office and mobile network operators, which is helping to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts being built as part of the 4G Emergency Services Network (ESN) – these masts previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls. But the upgrade means that all mobile operators can now benefit from these sites.
The latest masts to go live around Hawes adds to existing SRN delivered 4G connectivity in Yorkshire, including bringing 4G from all mobile network operators to parts of the North York Moors National Park, Helmsley, Nawton, Harome, Wombleton, Nunnington, Great Edstone, Great Habton, Pockley, Cold Kirby, Scawton, Scackleton, Cawton, Little Barugh, Old Byland, and North Grimston for the first time.
Together, the SRN brings geographic 4G coverage from all mobile network operators to 494,033m of roads in Yorkshire so far.
Minister for Telecoms, Chris Bryant MP, said:
“Visitors to the Dales this Yorkshire Day will now enjoy better mobile signal thanks to the Government’s continued drive to boost connectivity in rural areas.
The rollout of the Shared Rural Network means walkers can navigate more easily and access information on the go, while local businesses can benefit from being better connected, and emergency services can provide support more quickly when needed. This is connectivity that breaks down digital barriers and unlocks economic potential in Yorkshire’s world-class beauty spots – all of which boosts our Plan for Change.”
Since the SRN programme began in 2020, an additional 34,000 square kilometres are now receiving coverage from all four operators – EE, Three UK, O2 and Vodafone – across the UK. In addition, 4G coverage has been extended to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK’s roads.