Mobile operator EE has successfully deployed two new 4G (mobile broadband) mobile masts at Rackwick (Hoy) and Stronsay on Orkney, one of north Scotland’s most remote island communities, as part of the Scottish Government’s £28.75m 4G Infill Programme (S4GI).
The S4GI programme, which is also being supported by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and WHP Telecoms, is currently working to extend 4G infrastructure and coverage for up to 55 mobile “notspots” across rural and remote parts of Scotland. The project has already helped to build two other masts on Orkney, including one at Deerness and another in Burray. Sadly, no other mobile operators are using the four new masts.
EE now claims to have “by far the highest levels of 4G coverage” across Scotland’s landmass at 75%, which they say is 8 percentage points higher than the nearest competitor. The wider S4GI programme is currently due to complete its final mast deployment across Scotland by the end of this spring.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, said:
“With its logistically challenging landscape, and inclement weather, connecting these ‘not spots’ can present challenges. We’re proud to work to overcome these and be the mobile operator that’s leading the way in bringing better connectivity to rural Scotland.”
However, it’s worth noting that the expansion of 4G and 5G mobile coverage in Scotland will not stop once the S4GI programme comes to an end. The UK government’s wider and industry-led £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) project is separately working to extend geographic 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025 (91% in Scotland) via a mix of mast sharing and new mast builds.