- Parts of rural Wales can now benefit from fast and reliable mobile coverage helping to boost economic growth and bridge the digital divide in remote areas
- first of 86 UK government-funded 4G masts have been switched on as part of joint plan with telecoms firms to deliver mobile connectivity across 95 per cent of the UK landmass
- existing masts have been upgraded to deliver 4G cover while limiting the visual impact of the programme, delivering on the government's long term plan
Several rural communities in Wales can now access fast and reliable 4G mobile coverage, as UK government delivers on plans to tackle poor and patchy connection.
The first of 86 4G masts have been switched on in Wales this month, benefitting residents, tourists, and business owners and boosting economic growth in areas such as Pont-rhyd-y-groes, Ysbyty Ystwyth, LLanafan,Tynygraig, and West Fedw and Trawsgoed.
The rollout comes as part of the Shared Rural Network programme, a £1 billion plan led by the UK government and telecoms companies that seeks to close the digital divide and spur economic growth in remote areas of the country by boosting mobile connectivity.
It has been carried out by upgrading existing phone infrastructure, rather than building a new one, meaning communities can benefit from improved connectivity without the visual impact involved when building new masts.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:
Bad mobile signal can cause people immense frustration and hold back businesses in rural areas.
This is why I've made it my absolute priority to ensure that no one feels like they are being left behind because of the lack of reliable signal.
I'm thrilled to see our rollout signalling the end of mobile blackspots in rural Wales in Powys County. Everyone - from residents and business-owners to tourists - can access future-proof mobile connectivity and enjoy the opportunities it unlocks.
As a result of this upgrade, residents and tourists of Powys County will be able to access 4G signal from all four mobile network operators - EE, VMO2, Three and Vodafone.
A further two 4G masts are set to be switched on in the coming months in the villages of Esgair Maen and Bronfelin, as the delivery of the Shared Rural Network programme ramps up.
A total of 86 masts in Wales will be switched on over the coming months and reduce blackspots of coverage holding back communities reaping the benefits of digital connectivity.
The switch on in Wales marks a further milestone in the joint £1 billion deal between government and industry to ensure that all four mobile network operators deliver 95 per cent combined coverage across the whole of the UK by the end of 2025.
Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL) said:
In Wales, since the Shared Rural Network was announced in March 2020, 4G coverage from all four operators has expanded across an additional 1000 square kilometres - an area larger than Monmouthshire. As more shared mobile sites go live, people visiting and living in rural areas will see better 4G service thanks to this programme.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:
I'm delighted to see the end of these mobile blackspots in Powys with the switching on of three 4G masts, and more to come in the next few months. The UK government is proud of our investment in the Shared Rural Network which is helping residents and businesses in rural Wales have access to fast reliable internet connections.
The UK government is investing over £180 million to enable all mobile network operators to utilise the infrastructure and deliver 4G coverage.
This week's switch on in Wales builds on progress already made by the industry to bring fast and reliable mobile connectivity in Wales since the SRN was agreed between the UK government and the four mobile network operators back in March 2020.
Notes
The UK government and industry is jointly investing over £1 billion to increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the UK to 95% geographic coverage, through the Shared Rural Network.
In Wales, total 4G coverage from all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) is forecast to be 80%, increasing from 60% pre-SRN and total 4G coverage from at least one MNO is forecast to be 95% (increasing from 90% pre-SRN). 90.6% of landmass in Wales currently has 4G signal from at least one MNO.
The UK government is working with mobile network operators, upgrading their existing networks and working together on shared infrastructure and new sites, to transform mobile coverage in rural areas, increase choice of provider and boost productivity.
This element of the Shared Rural Network programme will see the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) provide £184 million of the £500 million UK government SRN funding to the Home Office and mobile network operators to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts being built as part of the Emergency Services Network (ESN), to make them usable by the four operators and offer commercial connectivity for the first time. This will help eliminate total not-spots - the hard to reach areas where there is currently no coverage at all from any operator.
There will be 292 EAS sites across Great Britain, including 86 in Wales, although not all will be commercially upgraded due to various technical or value for money reasons.
The programme is on target to deliver the combined coverage target of 95% of the UK's landmass by the end of 2025, and further coverage improvements in more hard-to-reach areas will continue to be delivered until early 2027.
