This week, Ofcom published its Connected Nations Report for 2024, which recognised that the UK’s four mobile network operators have made great progress in improving mobile coverage across the home nations.

The report notes that 4G geographic coverage improvements have been a result of the Shared Rural Network (SRN). This has been down to significant efforts made by the operators in delivering new 4G coverage in rural areas across the UK. There are now many more locations where consumers have more choice and far fewer rural locations with patchy or limited coverage than at the start of the SRN in 2020. Work on the industry-led element of the programme has come to an end, with coverage improvements delivered across the country. Ofcom recently verified that all of the MNOs met their partial non-spot targets, delivering new coverage to areas not previously served by all four operators. 

However, there is still progress to be made and the Shared Rural Network is continuing its work on the total not spot (TNS) and Extended Area Service (EAS) parts of the programme, which have been moving at pace. 

The first TNS site went live on South Uistlast month and was welcomed by the local Member of Parliament and Member of the Scottish Parliament. The site going live marked a key milestone in the Shared Rural Network programme of improving connectivity in rural areas. 

The mast brings greater connectivity to residents, tourists and businesses across Balivanich, Grimsay, Liniclate, and almost the entirety of Benbecula. The site, which hosts all four mobile network operators, sees collaboration to reduce the amount of infrastructure required to bring greater connectivity to communities. You can read more about it via www.srn.org.uk.

DMSL and the operators continue to work collaboratively to refine the radio plan, reducing the number of masts needed under the TNS element of the SRN. A significant amount of work is being carried out on the categorisation process with key stakeholders across Government, MNOs and DMSL to establish which masts will be most beneficial to all parties. 

28 government funded upgrades to Extended Area Service masts are now live across the UK. This consists of 20 sites in Wales, four in Scotland and four in England. This achievement brings greater connectivity to rural areas across the country with increased coverage in parts of Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Eryri National Park and Bont-goch in Wales; and areas in Cumbria, the Scottish Borders and East Ayrshire. 

Altogether, 208 masts have now entered Building Digital UK (BDUK) internal processes, with over 125 of those masts now in various stages of build for SRN upgrade, which will allow sites to provide commercial 4G coverage. Collaborative work continues between BDUK, the Home Office, DMSL and the MNOs to make more sites available.

Collectively, across the different elements of the SRN we continue to see progress against programme targets and goals. The SRN and the MNOs are committed to delivering the best outcome for all and we would encourage anyone with any questions to make contact at info@srn.org.uk or visit the SRN website www.srn.org.uk for more information.

‍