The latest news and media updates on the Shared Rural Network can be found below. Please check back regularly for new announcements and information.
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30 October 2026: 169 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of September 2026. 58 sites are now live in Wales, 62 in Scotland and 49 in England. Recent activations during October 2026 mean that areas benefit from new coverage include parts of Devon, North Yorkshire, the Isle of Arran, Orkney, Angus, the Isle of Mull, […]
30 September 2026: 157 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of September 2026. 58 sites are now live in Wales, 57 in Scotland and 42 in England. Recent activations during September 2026 mean that areas including parts of North Yorkshire, Powys, Orkney and Cumbria benefit from new coverage, as well as parts of the North […]
31 August 2026: 150 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of August 2026. 56 sites are now live in Wales, 55 in Scotland and 39 in England. Recent activations during August 2026 mean that areas including parts of Mull of Kintyre, Blairgowrie, Richmond and Selkirk benefit from new coverage, as well as parts of the […]
13 August 2026: Walkers, hikers and holidaymakers can stay connected when it counts in Britain’s countryside, as more than 150 4G mast upgrades go live through the UK government’s Shared Rural Network programme. For many people, the point of heading outdoors is to escape their screens. But 4G means people can enjoy the countryside with […]
31 July 2026: 145 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of July 2026. 56 sites are now live in Wales, 52 in Scotland and 37 in England. Recent activations during July 2026 mean that areas including parts of the Isles of Eigg and Muck, Brompon Regis, Winsford, Crosshill, Maybole, Prestatyn, Rhuddlan and Henllan; as well […]
9 July 2026: 50 UK Government-funded 4G masts have been switched on to boost signal in some of Scotland’s hardest-to-reach communities. Dozens of 4G mast upgrades have been activated thanks to UK Government funding through the Shared Rural Network, helping put an end to poor phone signal for rural communities across Scotland Better mobile coverage […]
26 June 2026: 140 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of June 2026. 55 sites are now live in Wales, 49 in Scotland and 36 in England. Recent activations during June 2026 mean that areas including parts of Strathconon, Birkhall, Sliddery, Campbeltown, Kilmory, Thwaite, Muker, Keld, Angram, West Stonesdale, Skeugh Head. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already made to […]
17 June 2026: Finding a decent mobile signal in the countryside is now easier than ever in Wales, as dozens of 4G mast upgrades are switched on thanks to UK Government investment. A further 11 4G masts have been activated in Wales this year thanks to the Shared Rural Network – a partnership between the […]
17 June 2026: Finding a decent mobile signal in the countryside is now easier than ever in the North East and Cumbria as dozens of 4G mast upgrades are switched on thanks to UK Government investment. A further two 4G masts have been activated in the North East and Cumbria this year thanks to the […]
17 June 2026: Finding a decent mobile signal in the countryside is now easier than ever in Yorkshire, as dozens of 4G mast upgrades are switched on thanks to UK Government investment. A further four 4G masts have been activated in Yorkshire this year thanks to the Shared Rural Network – a partnership between the […]
17 June 2026: Momentum continues to build across the Shared Rural Network, with a new Total Not Spot site now live at Scardroy, around 45km west of Inverness. This latest activation is another meaningful step towards improving connectivity in some of the UK’s hardest-to-reach areas, helping to reduce long-standing coverage gaps. Ben Whitestone, Interim CEO […]
29 May 2026: 136 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of May 2026. 55 sites are now live in Wales, 46 in Scotland and 35 in England. Recent activations during May 2026 mean that areas including parts of Machrihanish, Isle Of Gigha, Callander, Llanthony, Capel Y Ffin, Berriew, Manafon, New Mills, Langcliffe, Malham Moor, Hawkswick, Arncliffe. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already made […]
14 May 2026: Ofcom has published its Connected Nations Spring 2026 Update, providing an independent snapshot of mobile coverage and fixed broadband availability across the UK as of January 2026. For the Shared Rural Network (SRN), this update marks a highly significant programme milestone. The data confirms that geographic mobile coverage from all four mobile […]
01 May 2026: 129 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of April 2026. 53 sites are now live in Wales, 44 in Scotland and 32 in England. Recent activations during April 2026 mean that areas including parts of Penmyarth, Gliffaes, Scethrog, Llangynidr, Pennorth, Trefil, Cilycwm, Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery, Halton Gill, Port Wemyss, Port Charlotte, Portnahaven, Bowmore, Lotts, Glenegedale have more reliable coverage. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already made to communities across Scotland, England and Wales. These activations also […]
01 April 2026: 122 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of March 2026. 50 sites are now live in Wales, 41 in Scotland and 31 in England. Recent activations during March 2026 mean that areas including parts of Longsleddale, Flotterton, Great Tosson, Cartington, Snitter, Thropton, Harbottle, Buddlestone, Sharperton, Broadford, and Applecross have more reliable coverage. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already made to communities across Scotland, England and Wales. These activations also cover parts […]
13 March 2026: A second Shared Rural Network total not spot site is now live, this time boosting mobile connectivity on Islay in Scotland. The publicly funded 4G mast brings mobile service from all operators to parts of the island that previously had no signal from any operator. This new site addresses one of Scotland’s […]
09 March 2026: 50 government-funded mast upgrades have now been activated in Wales as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) – a programme brokered by the UK government and joint-funded with mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage in rural areas. Across the whole of the UK, 119 masts are now live as part of the SRN. Rural […]
02 March 2026: 118 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of February 2026. 49 sites are now live in Wales, 40 in Scotland and 29 in England. Recent activations during February 2026 mean that areas including parts of Craignish, Ardlussa, Lussagiven, Craobh Haven, Arduaine, Inverlussa, Kilberry, Ormsary, Craighouse and Tayinloan have more reliable coverage. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already made to communities across Scotland, England and Wales. These activations also cover parts of Northumberland […]
02 February 2026: 110 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of January 2026. 46 sites are now live in Wales, 35 in Scotland and 29 in England. The boost has been carried out by upgrading existing mobile masts which previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls, meaning communities can benefit from improved connectivity without […]
06 January 2026: 107 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of December 2025. 44 sites are now live in Wales, 34 in Scotland and 29 in England. Recent activations during December 2025 mean that areas including parts of Tarskavaig, Elgol, Lochbuie, Edgehead, Dewartown, Heriot, Tynehead, Cray, Starbotton, Hubberholme have more reliable coverage. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already made to communities across Scotland, England and Wales. These activations also cover parts […]
24 December: Signal all the way! Video calling the family for Christmas just got a little easier, with over 100 mobile network masts now upgraded to deliver 4G coverage from all major mobile network operators – a major milestone in the government’s drive to end mobile total-not-spots through the Shared Rural Network programme. Families will enjoy […]
28 November 2025: 99 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of November 2025. 44 sites are now live in Wales, 30 in Scotland and 25 in England. Recent activations during November 2025 mean that areas including parts of Warslow, Butterton Moor, Grindon, Wetton, Hulme End, West Hauxwell, Horsehouse, East Hauxwell, Cwm Rheidol, Comins Coch, Goginan, Aberffrwd, Capel Bangor, Orchardbank Business Park, Gowanbank, Douglastown, Halfpenny Burn, Oathlaw, Pearsie, Logie Business Park, Kinnordy, Bogindollo, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Glamis, Glenclova have more reliable coverage. These activations add to the coverage enhancements already […]
19 November 2025: Ofcom has today published its annual Connected Nations Report, highlighting the 4G coverage improvements delivered as a result of the programme: In March 2020, the UK Government announced that it had entered into an agreement with the fourMNOs to grant funding for a Shared Rural Network (SRN). Under the terms of this […]
31 October 2025: 86 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of October 2025. 40 sites are now live in Wales, 26 in Scotland and 20 in England. Recent activations during October 2025 mean that areas including parts of Low Bradfield, Walkley, Bradfield Dale, Heeley, Stannington, […]
1 October 2025: 81 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of August 2025. 40 sites are now live in Wales, 22 in Scotland and 19 in England. Recent activations during September 2025 mean that areas including parts of Llanddona, Llidiardau, Fron Goch, Maes Y Waen, […]
25 September: Mova, representing EE, Three, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone, has been honoured with The Barrier Removal Award at the 2025 Connected Britain Awards for its groundbreaking work on the Shared Rural Networkprogramme. The award celebrates initiatives that have overcome the toughest challenges in connectivity rollout. The SRN stood out to judges for its […]
5 September 2025: 77 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of August 2025. 38 sites are now live in Wales, 20 in Scotland and 19 in England. Recent activations during August 2025 mean that areas including parts of Knowe, Glentrool, Bankshill, Tundergarth Penwyllt, Islawrdref, Tirabad, Cefn […]
29 August 2025: More of the UK is now better connected, thanks to over 75 mobile masts now delivering fast and reliable 4G coverage from all operators to previously underserved rural areas. These coverage improvements are part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme – a landmark collaboration between the UK Government and mobile network […]
5 August 2025: 62 government-funded mast upgrades as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) were activated by the end of July 2025. 31 sites are now live in Wales, 15 in Scotland and 16 in England. Recent activations during July 2025 mean that areas including parts of Strome Ferry, Whithypool, Rosthwaite, Longthwaite, Seatoller and […]
1 August 2025: The latest government-funded mast upgrade has been activated in Yorkshire in time for Yorkshire Day as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) – a programme brokered by the UK government and joint-funded with mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage in rural areas. Across the whole of the UK, 58 masts […]
17 July 2025: 30 government-funded mast upgrades have now been activated in Wales as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) – a programme brokered by the UK government and joint-funded with mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage in rural areas. Across the whole of the UK, 56 masts are now live as part […]
30 June 2025: Since 2020, Building Digital UK (BDUK) and the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have been working to upgrade mobile connectivity for rural communities in every corner of the UK, as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN). The SRN programme has achieved its overarching target a year ahead of schedule, with over 95% […]
