Thanks to the Shared Rural Network, geographic outdoor 4G coverage now extends to over 95% of the UK. This milestone was reached a year ahead of schedule and has helped broaden consumer choice for mobile services in rural areas.
Across the UK, there will be a significant increase in the areas where all four operators deliver coverage, from 66% to 82% by the end of the programme. The areas forecast to benefit from the Shared Rural Network are illustrated in the below map (click to enlarge).
As a result of the Shared Rural Network, 4G in all four home nations of the UK coverage will increase as follows:
% figures rounded to whole figures. Pre SRN figures taken from Ofcom 2019 Connected Nations Report published 13 December 2019. Current coverage taken from Ofcom Connected Nations Update: Spring 2025 report published May 2025.
Progress against these targets will be measured by Ofcom. Visit the Ofcom website for more information about licence obligations and methodology.
Please visit the relevant section to view the forecast coverage improvement on a map, and broken down by region, for each of the four nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Pre-SRN figures are taken from Ofcom 2020 Connected Nations data. All % figures are rounded to whole figures. The forecast improvements are subject to availability of Extended Area Service sites. Coverage improvements are subject to finding suitable sites, obtaining power supply and backhaul and securing the necessary permissions through the planning system.
In England, coverage from all four operators will rise to a minimum of 90%, up from 81%. Coverage from at least one operator will increase from 97% to 99% by the end of the programme (click map to enlarge).
In Northern Ireland work on the SRN has now completed. Thanks to the programme coverage from all four operators has risen to 85%, up from 75% and coverage from at least one operator rose from 97% to 98%. (click map to enlarge).
In Scotland, coverage from all four operators will rise to a minimum of 70%, up from 41%. Coverage from at least one operator will increase from 80% to 91% by the end of the programme (click map to enlarge).
In Wales, coverage from all four operators will rise to a minimum of 78%, up from 57%. Coverage from at least one operator will increase from 90% to 97% by the end of the programme (click map to enlarge).
