The government-backed Shared Rural Network switched on its 50th mobile mast in Scotland on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula, extending all-four-operator 4G coverage across more than 1,900 square kilometres of rural Scotland — an area larger than Edinburgh and Glasgow combined.
The Shared Rural Network's 50th Scottish mast went live near Branault, on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula, bringing 4G coverage from EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone to a part of the Highlands that previously had patchy or no signal.
Fifty masts is a milestone worth marking on its own — but the scale is the real story: UK Government-funded upgrades now cover more than 1,900 square kilometres of rural Scotland, an area larger than Edinburgh and Glasgow combined. That is coverage that would not exist without the public subsidy behind the scheme; commercial operators had left these areas unserved for years.
It follows our report on the programme passing 140 masts UK-wide. Progress is real — the remaining gap is what happens for communities not yet on the list.
Vodafone withdrew its £12/month Essentials tariff, raising its entry price to £20. Virgin Media's Essential Broadband at £12.50 is now the lowest verified social tariff on the market — a reminder that these deals and their prices shift, so it's worth checking before you apply.
The government-backed Shared Rural Network has switched on its 140th mobile mast, with 49 now live in Scotland — including a second site on Islay that restores signal from all four networks to an area that previously had none.
The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee is taking public evidence on broadband and mobile coverage in rural and island Scotland. Submissions are a direct way to get lived experience in front of policymakers.
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