UK’s rural communities set for £1bn connectivity boost with government programme

Rural areas across the UK are set to benefit from “huge” improvements in mobile coverage thanks to a new £1bn connectivity programme.

The government has announced investment into its connectivity initiative in order to level up rural communities across the UK.

People and businesses across rural Scotland, Wales and the North East of England are set to benefit the most from the programme with improved mobile coverage.

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden commented: “We’re putting connecting people across the UK at the heart of our plan to build back better, through huge uplifts to mobile coverage in rural areas and the rapid rollout of gigabit broadband.

“Today’s announcements will improve the lives of millions of people in rural parts of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, giving them the connections they need to work, access services and keep in touch - both at home and on the go.”

Hamish MacLeod, director at Mobile UK, added: “The Shared Rural Network is a transformational project backed by a half a billion-pound investment from the mobile operators to extend coverage in rural areas across the country.

“Mobile operators have already started to deliver on this commitment, with new sites coming online in partial coverage areas.

“We are committed to providing a reliable 4G mobile signal to 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass and improving the experience for people living, working and travelling in rural areas.”