CLA welcomes mobile masts upgrade, but more needed to close digital divide
More than 100 masts upgraded across countryside through Shared Rural Network
The CLA has welcomed the upgrading of more than 100 mobile masts, but warned more needs to be done to close the urban-rural digital divide.
The government has announced masts have been upgraded across rural Wales, Scotland and England delivering new 4G coverage from all mobile network operators for the first time.
The Shared Rural Network is a joint programme between the government and the UK’s mobile network operators EE, Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneThree to improve rural coverage across Britain.
'Digital wilderness'
CLA President Gavin Lane said:
“Reliable mobile coverage is vital for rural economic growth, so we welcome the upgrading of masts.
“But many parts of the countryside remain in the digital wilderness, impacting businesses and communities, and more work needs to be done to close the urban-rural connectivity divide.
“To do this, the relationship between site providers and operators has to be based on co-operation and a mutual understanding.
“The CLA supports the ambitions of the Shared Rural Network and will speak to any operator so all of rural Britain can benefit from the digital revolution.”
In total 105 masts have been upgraded – 44 in Wales, 33 in Scotland and 28 in England – providing reliable coverage to over 400 businesses.
The masts are predicted to bring outdoor 4G signal coverage from all mobile networks to over 4,000 square kilometres of the UK.