
UK Government Achieves Milestone in Mobile Mast Upgrade Scheme
The SRN initiative improves rural UK connectivity, bridging digital gaps and boosting local businesses, tourism, and emergency services, with significant progress in 4G coverage expansion.
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CIO Applications Europe | Friday, June 06, 2025

FREMONT, CA: The UK government has announced that 30 mobile mast upgrades funded by the Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative have been activated. The enhancements are spread across the country, with 21 sites in Wales, five in Scotland, and four in England. These efforts are part of the broader SRN programme, which aims to enhance mobile connectivity, especially in rural areas, addressing so-called "notspots" where mobile coverage has traditionally been poor.
Background of the Shared Rural Network Programme
The £1.3 billion Shared Rural Network programme is a collaborative effort between the UK’s leading mobile network operators—EE, VMO2, Three, and Vodafone—and the UK government. The scheme's main objective is to extend 4G connectivity to 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass by the end of 2025. This ambitious project involves both public and private investment to construct new phone masts and upgrade existing ones to eliminate gaps in mobile coverage, particularly in rural areas.
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Investment and Goals of the SRN Scheme
The SRN programme relies on the joint efforts of the mobile operators, who have committed £532 million towards the initiative, alongside more than £501 million in government funding. Together, they aim to provide 4G coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000 km of roads across the UK. The scheme also focuses on improving coverage in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks, with 4G coverage set to increase from 51 per cent to 79 per cent in AONBs and from 41 per cent to 74 per cent in National Parks. These improvements are expected to benefit millions of visitors and residents in these regions.
Extending Coverage to Rural Areas
Since the programme’s inception, significant progress has been made. The government reports that an additional 34,000 km²—approximately double the size of Northern Ireland—has gained 4G coverage from all four operators. This expansion is a key step in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas, helping to ensure that rural communities receive the same level of connectivity as their urban counterparts. The initiative catalyses economic growth, improving access to services and enhancing the quality of life in underserved regions.
Upgrading Masts in Remote Locations
As part of the SRN, the UK government is investing £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts, ensuring all four mobile operators provide coverage in remote and rural locations. One such upgrade recently went live in the North York Moors National Park, improving mobile connectivity for rural towns and villages in Northeast Yorkshire, including Helmsley, Harome, Great Edstone, and Cold Kirby. Previously, these areas only had mobile service for EE customers and emergency 999 calls. The new, reliable 4G connectivity supports day-to-day communications, emergency services, and business operations.
Impact on Communities and Businesses
Telecoms minister Chris Bryant praised the SRN’s efforts, noting the positive impact on rural communities, businesses, and tourism. He highlighted that poor phone signals have long been a challenge for people living in remote areas, and the activation of the 30 masts helps to bridge this gap. The SRN’s upgrades provide more opportunities for local businesses and boost tourism while improving access to emergency services, ultimately saving lives.
Continued Expansion and Future Outlook
DMSL CEO Ben Roome emphasised the ongoing progress of the SRN programme, noting that since the announcement in March 2020, 4G coverage from all four operators has expanded by over 11,000 km², an area nearly the size of the West Midlands. Roome reassured that the programme would continue to improve connectivity for rural areas as more shared mobile sites go live. The SRN programme is set to play a critical role in shaping the future of mobile connectivity in the UK, particularly in ensuring that rural communities are not left behind in the digital age.
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