site delivers 4G to areas that previously had no

mobile broadband coverage from any operator .

The development provides 4G coverage

from all UK mobile operators , significantly

enhancing connectivity for residents ,

businesses , and tourists .

Whether visiting Ushenish Lighthouse ,

walking The Hebridean Way or wildlife

watching around the lochs , visitors to this

part of the Outer Hebrides now have access

to reliable 4G for the first time . In addition ,

seafarers and fishermen passing through and

working in The Little Minch between South

Uist and Skye will also benefit .

The mast was built by Virgin Media O2 and

will deliver commercial coverage from all four

operators , including EE , Three and Vodafone .

“ For too long , island communities in

Scotland have struggled to get online while

on the go ,” commented Telecoms Minister

Chris Bryant . “ This milestone for the Shared

Rural Network means vast swathes of Uist are

now covered by 4G for the first time , boosting

productivity for local businesses and safety for

those in remote areas .”

“ South Uist is the first location to benefit

from this new phase of the programme , which

targets areas with no 4G coverage at all . We

will continue to work with the mobile network

operators to maximise the benefits of this

rollout for local communities while preserving

“ Making good 4G coverage available across the UK , underpins the Shared Rural Network programme .”

areas of natural beauty .”

“ This site shows what can be achieved when

industry , government and local stakeholders

work together ,” noted Ben Roome , CEO of

Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited , which

represents the four major mobile operators .

“ Making good 4G coverage available wherever

people choose to be across the UK , underpins the Shared Rural Network programme . This site going live builds on the incredible achievement of the mobile operators hitting their industry-funded coverage targets .”

“ We are extremely proud to continue our industry-leading work which is bringing reliable mobile coverage to rural communities across the UK for the very first time ,” added Jeanie York , chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2 , added . “ This new site in South Uist , which will bring mobile signal to local residents , major roads and visitor attractions which were previously disconnected , illustrates how the total not spot programme can transform lives when we invest in the right locations . Targeted investment like this will provide the greatest benefit to consumers , help close the rural / urban divide and deliver growth across the country .”

The four mobile network operators continue work to minimise the number of new masts required and now expect to meet the programme ’ s objectives with far fewer sites than originally planned . Feedback from communities and special interest groups plays an important role in agreeing the best locations for new infrastructure , and the mobile network operators and Government are working with stakeholders across Scotland to ensure the benefits of new sites are balanced with any environmental impacts and other concerns .

The SRN - a programme brokered by the Government and joint-funded with mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage in rural areas - has already delivered new 4G coverage to an additional 30,000 square kilometres , an area twice the size of Northern Ireland . The programme addresses longstanding connectivity challenges in rural areas by ensuring reliable mobile coverage from all four operators : EE , Three , VMO2 and Vodafone .

Through the SRN programme , the Government and the UK ’ s four mobile network operators aim to provide 4G coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK ’ s roads .

ONE4HDD major 5G milestone

The ONE4HDD consortium ,

a project which proposes a

novel solution to optimise

mobile network performance

in High Demand Density

( HDD ) environments , has

confirmed the successful

conclusion of its final

demonstration at the British

Superbikes final at Brands Hatch .

The system ’ s success in managing the intense demand for mobile data , which outstripped the venue ’ s existing mobile infrastructure , is a major achievement for the consortium and a leap forward in proving the commercial viability of 5G in High Demand Density ( HDD ) settings such as

sports events , festivals , and concerts .

“ This final demonstration of ONE4HDD is a fantastic culmination of months of innovation and collaboration ,” declared Alex Buchan , CTO , Digital TV Group . “ We ’ ve shown that 5G can dramatically improve the fan experience at live events by ensuring uninterrupted access to highquality content . We ’ re proud

to have led such a forwardlooking consortium , and this is only the beginning for what we can achieve with 5G in the media industry . The project has been made possible thanks to funding from DSIT as part of the future networks programme which has provided the opportunity to unlock commercial impasses and drive this innovative technology towards live deployments .”

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