Goverment links up with mobile networks to get better rural 4g coverage

The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is to link up with all mobile phone operators to give rural communities a better 4G signal.

Mobile networks have given £530 and has been matched by the government which will see more masts in communities enabling more people to get a good 4G signal in areas where there is no signal.

We expect Partington to have more masts in the near future as signals are poor in the area.

Whilst it is great communities up and down the UK will get better coverage, the issues will be people may think these masts are actually 5G and not 4G, since the councillors are dummed down more research will be needed by communities.

Interesting also that the government are giving all the networks access to the emergency services network, this network is run by Airwave and it uses Tetra masts which uses pulse waves at a very low frequency.

The Shared Rural Network proposal is subject to legal agreement. The Government’s ambition is to reach a formal agreement on it early next year.

Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said:

We are determined to make sure no part of the country is left behind when it comes to mobile connectivity. We are closing in on a deal with the mobile network operators so those living in rural areas will be able to get the fast and reliable mobile coverage they need and deserve.

Brokering an agreement for mast sharing between networks alongside new investment in mobile infrastructure will mean people get good 4G signal no matter where they are or which provider they’re with.

But it is not yet a done deal and I want to see industry move quickly so we can reach a final agreement early next year.”

Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone UK, said:

There is no other scheme like this in the world. It will spell an end to annoying mobile ‘not spots’ for hundreds of thousands of people living, working and travelling in the more remote parts of the UK. By working together, we will deliver better coverage while offering more choice for consumers and businesses using far fewer masts.

Mark Evans, CEO of Telefonica UK (O2), said:

These proposals represent a step-change in the way that mobile coverage is delivered. They are the most ambitious solution, of all proposals on the table and will ensure that customers across all corners of the UK can access a good connection. By providing a much-needed boost to rural communities, the Shared Rural Network represents a vital step in bridging the digital divide.

Mobile has become so much more than the phone in your hand; it’s the glue that powers the UK’s economy and will be a fundamental component of our national success in the years to come.

David Dyson, CEO of Three UK, said:

We welcome the Shared Rural Network. It is the best way to enhance mobile connectivity for the 9.3 million living in the UK’s countryside: it brings mobile coverage to more places in the UK and it gives people in rural areas a similar choice as those living in towns and cities.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division, said:

While EE already has the UK’s largest 4G network, we’re always looking at new ways to efficiently deliver more 4G to areas that are hardest to reach.

This ambitious proposal combined with critical Government support, will remove the key barriers to tackling the tricky not-spot problem, ensuring people and businesses right across the UK get access to the digital connectivity they need, wherever they are.