Vodafone Extend 4G Mobile to 57 UK Rural Locations via SRN
Mobile operator Vodafone has today issued an update on their deployment progress under the £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) project, which reveals that it has already rolled out 4G (mobile broadband) connectivity across 57 rural locations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland under the programme.
The SRN is an industry-led scheme – supported by a public investment of £500m and private funding of £530m from operators – that aims to help extend geographic 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025 (it may also help the 5G rollout). The scheme essentially involves both the reciprocal sharing of existing masts in certain areas, as well as the demand-led building and sharing of new masts in others between the operators.
As part of this, Vodafone has already extended 4G across various additional sites in rural locations from the Orkney Islands in Northern Scotland to Devon in South West England. The operator doesn’t say how many additional premises this has helped to reach, but they have included a full list of the 57 new locations. The operator is also exploring new mast technologies, such as OpenRAN, which is already starting to support delivery of coverage in a number of rural communities.
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Andrea Dona, Vodafone’s UK Network and Development Director, said: “Connectivity is vital for everyone, which is why we are continually investing in our network. However, connecting rural and hard-to-reach parts of the UK can be difficult and restricted by cost. The Shared Rural Network initiative enables the UK network operators to work together so people living and working in such areas have a choice of network as well as the connectivity they need to support local and ultimately the wider UK economy.”
Vodafone’s 57 New SRN 4G Deployment Locations
| Scotland | England | Wales | Northern Ireland |
| Four sites across Tarbert, Argyll | Buxton, Derbyshire, | Llandrindod Wells, Powys, | Enniskillen, Fermanagh |
| Four sites across Isle of Harris | Oakham, Rutland | Y-Ffor, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, | |
| Three sites across Isle of Mull | Worth Matravers, Dorset, | Devauden, Gwent, | |
| Selkirk, Scottish Borders | Braunton, Devon, | Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, | |
| Invergarry, Highland | Biggins, North Yorkshire | St Arvans, Monmouthshire, | |
| Braemar, Aberdeenshire | Thetford, Norfolk | Laugharne,, Carmarthenshire, | |
| Newton Stewart, Dumfriesshire, | Larkhill, Wiltshire, | ||
| Lairg, Highland | Felixstowe, Suffolk | ||
| Dalmally, Argyllshire | Sheerness, Kent | ||
| Alford, Aberdeenshire | Little Waltham, Essex | ||
| Mallaig, Highland | Colchester, Essex | ||
| Cupar, Fife | Harrietsham, Kent | ||
| Callander, Stirlingshire | Lyndhurst, Hampshire, | ||
| Pitochry, Perth and Kinross | Winterbourne Zelston, Dorset, | ||
| Invergarry, Highland | Highnam, Gloucestershire, | ||
| North Uist | Cinderford, Gloucestershire, | ||
| Orkney Islands | Cerne Abbas, Dorset, | ||
| Glenmoriston, Highland | |||
| Loch Dubh, Isle of Lewis | |||
| Invergarry, Highland | |||
| Strathcarron, Highlands | |||
| Buckie, Moray | |||
| Balmacara, Kyle | |||
| Innerleithen, Scottish Borders |
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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There’s at least one of those locations that wasnt an SRN project and has been live for 3 years!
The nature of mobile means that we could be talking about some extensions of existing coverage in certain areas.
Most of those English look to be like small, or even not so small, towns rather than rural
The Highnam, Glos mast was built years ago and only switched on in the last 12 months. Clutching at straws claiming it’s part of SRN!
Yet still no plans to turn 5G on in the city of Norwich whereby everyone else has
Or Holt, Norfolk where Three has turned on 5G (as an isolated low coverage pocket)
Relax. No one is getting true ‘stand lone’ 5g.
All anyone is getting is fake 5g.
In a lot of cases these 5g macro sites are so congested now, you get a better performance switching off 5g on your device and using 4g.
Besides, are you lacking from 4g which you feel 5g will bring you at this time?
I hope they do this Leven and Kennoway Area In Fife because 4G is rubbishI am lucky to 2 Mbps
I hope they do this Leven and Kennoway Area In Fife because 4G is rubbish I am lucky very to get 2 Mbps
Ive noticed in my area Vodafone are getting planning permission accepted easily however Three are getting refused left right & centre. Something strange is going on.
£500m of public funding