Broadband ISP and mobile operator EE (BT) has announced that, as part of their work under the £1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) project, they will be upgrading 139 mobile mast sites across Northern Ireland and deliver improved 4G mobile coverage.
The SRN is an industry-led scheme – supported by £500m of public funding and £532m from operators – that aims to help extend geographic 4G coverage (aggregate) to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025 (the 5G rollout will also benefit). The scheme essentially involves both the reciprocal sharing of existing masts in certain areas and the demand-led building and sharing of new masts in others between the operators.
The project’s target does, however, vary a bit between different parts of the UK. For example, 4G coverage from at least one MNO is expected to reach 98% in England, 91% in Scotland, 95% in Wales and 98% in Northern Ireland. But this falls to 90% in England, 74% in Scotland, 80% in Wales and 85% in Northern Ireland when looking at 4G coverage from all MNOs combined.
For its part, EE has so far upgraded more than 1,500 locations across the UK, which allegedly “[makes] it the only operator on track to meet its obligations under the SRN” – this is in light of last weekend’s media reporting that O2, Three UK and Vodafone will struggle to meet the June 2024 Ofcom deadline for coverage improvements in partial not-spot areas (here).
According to today’s announcement, EE has just significantly expanded the reach of its 4G network by upgrading 139 locations across Northern Ireland as part of the SRN. The operator – working in partnership with WHP Telecoms – has also built a new mobile mast to deliver enhanced 4G coverage across the northern part of the Mid-Ulster district and the eastern part of the Sperrins – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This includes the villages of Moneyneany and Draperstown, Spelhoagh Mountain, as well as large sections of the B40, A6 and Glenshane Pass – one of the highest mountain roads in Northern Ireland.
By the end of the SRN programme, EE aims to have upgraded or built 164 sites in Northern Ireland – including the potential for a further 10 new mast sites – to ensure rural communities have the fast and reliable 4G connectivity they need.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, said:
“The Shared Rural Network is having a positive impact on the lives of people who live and work in countryside communities across the UK. At EE we’re expanding the reach of our 4G network to deliver widespread and reliable connectivity rural areas can rely on.
Northern Ireland is renowned for its rich history and heritage, as well as its thriving tourism and agricultural industries. Having boosted 4G connectivity across the country, we’re helping close the digital divide that exists between urban and rural communities and ensuring residents and businesses have the connectivity they need to thrive for decades to come.”
EE’s 4G network in Northern Ireland currently covers more than 88% of the country and is on track to reach 89% by the end of 2025 thanks to these new upgrades. But as usual with EE’s press releases, they talk about giving “details” of the 139 upgraded mobile mast sites, but then fail to actually list which sites have been upgraded – something we and many others would find useful to know.