O2 UK Targets 94.6% Indoor 4G Network Coverage of Scotland

Mobile operator O2 (Telefonica UK) has today announced that they’re aiming to “hook up” as many as 72 additional Scottish communities to their 4G network over the next 12 months, which should lift their indoor coverage of the service to reach 94.6% of Scotland.

During 2018 O2 said they delivered “high-speed” 4G mobile (mobile broadband) coverage to 366 new locations across Scotland, which means the operator now covers a total of 2,387 cities, towns, villages and hamlets across the country.

As a result of this effort O2 said they’re becoming increasingly focused on improving coverage in remote rural areas. For example, one of the first such locations in 2019 to benefit from a 4G mast upgrade is the Isle of Unst (around 600 residents should see a better signal), which is geographically closer to Norway than Edinburgh.

Scotland’s varied terrain and weather conditions can of course present new challenges for such deployments. Due to this O2 has also been making greater use of helicopters and off-road vehicles to conduct a lot of their recent work. Next on the list will be the Isle of Coll – a small Hebridean island of 220 inhabitants.

Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Connectivity Minister, said:

“O2 has shown innovation and commitment to bring improved mobile coverage across Scotland and we welcome that.

2018 was a year where good progress was made in 366 Scottish communities such as in Unst and it is really encouraging to see O2 continuing that momentum in 2019 with potentially up to 72 communities in Scotland including the Isle of Coll, benefiting from O2’s investment in the year ahead. It is vital for Scottish business and consumers in all parts of the country that they and other mobile operators do so.”

Derek McManus, COO at O2, said:

“The upgrade to our Saxa Vord site, and our new mast on the Isle of Coll, are part of our ongoing investment activity in Scotland. At O2 we are constantly challenging ourselves to deliver better connectivity for all of our customers, regardless of landscape or weather conditions.

We are committed to helping build a fully mobile Britain. The need for 4G connectivity is an integral part of modern daily life. We know mobile has the power to make a real, positive difference to people’s lives and businesses in rural communities across Scotland.”

O2 says they invest over £2 million every day to “deliver the best-connected experience” for their customers. Meanwhile a report they commissioned last year from Development Economics found that Scotland could potentially receive an “overall boost to its economy of up to £20m per annum” from the enhanced 4G connectivity delivered by them in 2018 (we always take such forecasts with a pinch of salt because it’s very difficult to accurately quantify the impact).