Rural Scotland secures major connectivity boost

A new major mobile coverage upgrade is set to transform connectivity across Scotland’s rural regions, the UK Government has revealed.

New plans to improve infrastructure will give residents across four hard-to-reach regions reliable access to 4G services.

Argyll and Bute, home to one of worst internet connections in the UK, is amongst the constituencies that will see a boost in its connectivity.

Households across Ayrshire, Berwickshire and Dumfriesshire will also benefit from the initiative.

Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: "This significant mobile connectivity boost, funded by the UK Government, will help people in some of Scotland's most rural communities. It will support local businesses and improve access and safety for residents and visitors alike.”

Under the project, a total of 13 mobile masts will be improved to provide coverage from all four major mobile network operators – EE, 02, Three and Vodafone.

Currently, portions of the infrastructure only provide coverage to EE customers or those making emergency calls.

Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale are the four UK constituencies that will benefit from the upgrade. 

The project is part of the UK Government's Shared Rural Network programme, a partnership with mobile network operators aimed at improving connectivity in rural areas across the UK.

The programme has already delivered coverage to more than 95 per cent of the UK, with further improvements planned until early 2027.

Murray added: "Improving digital connectivity - including in our most remote communities - is a key part of the UK Government's Plan for Change - it is vital to delivering jobs and economic growth.  And upgrading existing masts rather than building new ones, there will be minimal environmental impact in what are some of Scotland's most scenic areas."

Scotland has long suffered from a digital divide, with six of the 10 UK constituencies for worst internet coverage located north of the border.

The connectivity gap was set to be closed by 2021, under the Reaching 100 (R100) project.

However, the project’s deadline has since been pushed back to 2028. And as of March, this year it was sill less than halfway complete, according to a freedom of information request obtained by the Scottish Daily Express.

The scheme has come under significant criticism for punching below its weight. Writing for Holyrood’s Local Authorities Guide earlier this year, council leaders said the project accused the government of ignoring “complexities” in island communities when devising the scheme, adding it would fail to solve the connection issues.