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 network operators now extends to 84% of the UK, up from 66% before the SRN began. Coverage from at least one operator now exceeds 96%, compared with 91% pre‑SRN.
The 84% all‑operator coverage figure was not a routine benchmark. It was a founding objective of the Shared Rural Network, set at programme inception to define success in eliminating partial not‑spots across the country. Alongside the separate ambition to reach 95% coverage from at least one operator, it was central to the programme’s original policy intent.
In practical terms, moving from 66% to 84% all‑operator coverage means converting an area slightly larger than Switzerland from partial or no service into locations where people now have a choice of operators. This delivers greater resilience, competition and reliability for rural communities that did not previously exist.
The Spring Update also confirms that Scotland has met the Shared Rural Network’s all‑operator coverage target ahead of schedule, now over 70% up from only 41% pre SRN, a major achievement given the scale, geography and complexity of delivering mobile infrastructure in some of the UK’s most challenging rural environments.
This reflects the combined efforts of all four mobile network operators, supported through the SRN, to extend reliable 4G coverage to communities that have historically been hardest to reach.
The latest data shows that:
- Geographic coverage from all operators has reached 84%, up from 66% pre‑SRN
- Coverage from at least one operator now extends to over 96%, up from 91% pre‑SRN
- Rural mobile coverage continues to improve outside urban areas, reflecting sustained investment through the Shared Rural Network
- Improvements are visible across the UK, at national, local authority and parliamentary constituency level
Ofcom has also published an interactive version of the Spring Update, allowing users to explore coverage data at nation, local authority and UK and Scottish Parliament constituency level.
Looking ahead
This milestone represents one of the clearest evidence points yet of successful SRN delivery against its original policy intent. The programme will now continue to support each mobile network operator in reaching their specific coverage commitments under licence obligations by early 2027.
You can read the full Spring Update and explore the interactive data on Ofcom’s website:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-update-spring-2026
