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The new tower is already being used heavily by the local community, with EE calling it “one of the busiest EE mobile sites in the area”
This week, EE has announced the deployment of a new mobile tower in the remote Scottish Isle of Skye, having flown it in via helicopter.
The new mast, which has been nestled in a forested area to lower its visual impact, now provides 4G coverage to 330,000 square metres of the central and northern parts of the island.
The primary focus of this deployment, says EE, is to help improve safety in the region, connecting lone workers and tourists that could need emergency services. The site also supports local businesses, providing a significant boost to the local economy.
“Skye is one of the most popular locations in the Scottish Highlands for good reason and is renowned for its rich history, cultural attractions and iconic scenery. This new mast is part of our ongoing commitment to help close the digital divide and ensure that the benefits of reliable 4G connectivity are more widely felt by rural communities in every corner of the UK,” said Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group. “The improved mobile coverage will benefit both residents and local businesses, as well as the many thousands of visitors the island welcomes each year. It also provides an important backup to landlines in case of an emergency.”
According to the EE, the site is already receiving heavy use by the local population, with usage during Storm Bert being notably high. Networking data from the operator says the site “is one of the busiest EE mobile sites in the area”, according to the operator.
While uncommon, delivering mobile towers via helicopter is not unheard of. In fact, for remote islands like the Hebrides, this is sometimes the only viable method for deployment. EE’s rival Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) notably deployed six masts this way on the neighbouring island of Islay last year. Earlier this year, VMO2 followed this up by deploying a single mast on Skye earlier this year, with the move marking the company’s 100th deployment as part of the Shared Rural Network programme.
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