Mobile coverage in several rural communities across Great Britain has received an upgrade following a series of new 4G mast activations. Delivered through the Shared Rural Network (SRN) — a partnership between the UK government and mobile network operators — the latest phase of investment aims to reduce long-standing coverage gaps for residents, businesses, and visitors.

More than 140 government-funded 4G masts have now been activated across Great Britain. To minimise environmental impact and preserve the natural beauty of the countryside, the vast majority of these upgrades have been implemented on existing mast infrastructure rather than building new towers from scratch.

The improvements are designed to support rural economies by helping local businesses manage deliveries and coordinate staff across remote areas. They also provide local communities with more reliable day-to-day access to digital services, work, and emergency communication.

Reflecting on the ongoing progress, Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd said:

“The Shared Rural Network, backed by government funding, is helping bring every part of the UK into the digital age, including some of Wales’s most remote communities.

“From Yr Wyddfa to Powis Castle, these upgrades will make it easier for local communities to access vital services, stay in touch and for businesses to grow.

“The switching on of these masts shows how our investment is improving mobile coverage in the places that need it most.”

Regional Summary

Wales

Wales has seen a significant portion of this year's rollout, with 11 new masts activated to bring the nation's total to 55 government-funded SRN sites. The upgrades mean that residents and visitors to historically isolated spots — such as Nant Gwynant in Snowdonia, Capel y Ffin, and Manafon — can now access reliable 4G mobile internet regardless of their network provider.

Scotland

In the Highlands, a new "Total Not Spot" (TNS) site has gone live at Scardroy, situated roughly 45km west of Inverness. The TNS portion of the programme explicitly targets areas that previously had no coverage from any mobile operator. Ben Whitestone, Interim CEO at Building Digital UK (BDUK), welcomed the milestone as a meaningful step towards reducing coverage gaps and supporting local economies in hard-to-reach areas.

England

Across northern England, dozens of mast upgrades are being switched on to address historic blackspots. In Yorkshire, 4 new masts (bringing the regional total to 11) have gone live in locations like Halton Gill, Westerdale, and Arncliffe. Meanwhile, in the North East and Cumbria, a further 2 masts have been activated (bringing their total to 16), providing improved digital infrastructure to communities in Sharperton and Longsleddale.

With further work currently underway across multiple sites, the programme continues its rollout to narrow the digital divide between urban and rural parts of the UK.

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