Three hits a century on Shared Rural Network site contributions

Three has built its hundredth 4G rural site as part of the Shared Rural Network programme. The £1 billion SRN programme will increase all operators’ 4G coverage increase to 90 per cent of UK 95 per cent by 2026.

Three UK has now delivered sites across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to provide new 4G connectivity to over 37,000 premises, with coverage over 2,800 square kilometres.

The largest commitment is to Scotland where 65 of Three’s 100 shared rural sites have been deployed to provide coverage for 12,500 premises across nearly 2,000 square kilometres of remote locations.

The Inner Hebrides Isle of Colonsay (main pic above) now has 93 per cent 4G network coverage on the island, giving connectivity to more than 150 premises in an area of 41 square kilometres.

“The locations we are focusing on are remote and challenging”.

Iain Milligan, Chief Network Officer of Three UK, said: “It is vital that we provide a network capable of supporting local economies and communities in every part of the UK. The 100 sites in Three’s SRN network will transform rural access to 4G. We continue to deliver on our commitments. The locations we are focusing on are remote and challenging. We continue to work with local authorities to try and progress as best as possible.”

Three UK’s planned merger with Vodafone UK will further enhance rural coverage The combined business will deploy high-capacity 5G to 86 per cent of the UK’s population by 2030, boosting local economies by bringing advanced 5G technologies to cities and towns, including around 400 small towns that could benefit from earlier access to high-capacity 5G.

The Shared Rural Network is funded by the mobile industry and Government to upgrade new and existing phone masts to i4G coverage to at least 90 per cent of UK landmass guaranteed coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of roads.