EE, a British mobile network operator and internet service provider, part of the British Telecommunications (BT) Group, has announced ambitious plans to expand its 4G coverage in more than 500 areas of the United Kingdom by the end of the year, reports Vodafore UK.
The Shared Rural Network project continues its expansion. @VodafoneUKBiz is working alongside other #telco players to build 222 new masts across the #UK that will help boost 4G coverage in rural areas across the country. https://t.co/aPj9VSf2nQ pic.twitter.com/cdPDd1jCWo
— Colin (@ColinOnToast) February 19, 2021
While 5G may have become the newest buzz word in mobile telephony, many areas around the nation still find it challenging to access the net away from the home. EE has announced it is updating its 4G sign in this year to bring higher speeds to extra units, as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative.
Upgrades have been introduced to its 4G network in 110 areas, announced EE, with a following extra 469 upgrades anticipated by the end of 2021.
A total of 579 areas will profit from extended EE 4G protection by the end of 2021: 333 in England, 132 in Scotland, 76 in Wales, and 38 in Northern Ireland.
EE is the biggest 4G network in the UK, ostensibly offering the best download speeds of any local network and possibly also the best coverage, currently reaching over 99 percent of the population and more than 86 percent of the landmass. It was also the first UK network to offer a 5G service.
We’re boosting rural coverage across the UK by upgrading 4G in more than 500 places by the end of 2021.
— EE (@EE) February 24, 2021
In this first phase of the Shared Rural Network programme, we’re extending coverage in areas with high summer demand including National Parks, coastal locations and roads. pic.twitter.com/NP67KhzqqT
Hailing the plans, Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, stated:
“I’m delighted to see the great strides EE is making to boost 4G services in countryside communities as part of the Shared Rural Network agreement, which was brokered and is part funded by the government. We’re investing half a billion pounds in this landmark deal to extend mobile coverage to 95 per cent of the UK and it will help us build back better from the pandemic.”
The importance of reliable connectivity was underscored by Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, who added that the company was “committed to improving and adding coverage to even the most remote areas”.
“The investment BT has made in rural areas to date means we already have the infrastructure in place needed to extend our 4G coverage footprint further, minimising the number of new sites we need to build. There are many places where EE is the only provider with 4G coverage today, offering the other operators an opportunity to share our existing sites to plug gaps in their networks and improve mobile performance for everyone.”
SRN Initiative
Geared toward extending 4G protection in rural areas throughout the UK, the SRN initiative dates back to March 2020. The SRN (Shared Rural Network) deal was signed, the £1bln worth arrangement between the UK’s four main mobile networks (EE, O2, Vodafone and Three) and the government seeks to deliver 4G coverage to 95 percent of the country’s territory by the end of 2025.
SRN's a programme between the UK’s four MNOs and Gov to extend 4G coverage to 95% of UK geography by the middle of this decade.
— Marc Allera (@MarcAllera) February 24, 2021
579 areas will benefit by the end of 2021: 333 in England (inc @EE's site above Llanuwchllyn, Bala, Snowdonia), 132 in Scotland, 76 in Wales, 38 in NI. pic.twitter.com/yOrZys8ATG
Building on the earlier multi-billion pound investment Vodafone made to bring 4G coverage to 99 percent of UK landmass, the more sweeping initiative presupposed building new, shared masts to connect areas having no coverage at all.
Devauden, Wye Valley, was the site where Vodafone first hooked up its SRN site in June 2020, followed by Longnor in the Peak District.
“We know connectivity is vital and the only way to fill the holes in the UK’s mobile coverage is to work together. Our unique collaboration with O2 and Three will deliver 222 new sites in parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that need better connectivity. Delivering the Shared Rural Network will make a huge difference to communities across the UK,” said Nick Jeffrey, CEO, Vodafone UK.
