Rural 4G rollout brings stronger mobile coverage to Welsh national parks

Daniel Bevan - Editor

Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.

More than 150 government-funded 4G mast upgrades are now live across rural areas of the UK, giving walkers, holidaymakers and rural communities improved mobile coverage through the Shared Rural Network.

The upgrades, delivered in partnership with mobile network operators, extend coverage across more than 5,684 square kilometres. They include some of the UK’s best-known hiking areas, including the Lake District, Eryri (Snowdonia) and Exmoor.

The programme aims to improve connectivity in rural areas where commercial rollout can be more difficult and costly. The additional coverage allows visitors to check weather and route information, contact family and friends and access emergency services, while also supporting businesses and residents with services such as online payments, bookings and remote working.

The Yorkshire Dales and Eryri have seen the largest increases in mobile coverage among national parks, with coverage rising by around seven percentage points in each, according to government figures.

Minister of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Ian Murray, said: “You should be able to switch off in the countryside without being cut off from the help and services you need.

“These 150 masts are helping change that – giving walkers, visitors and rural communities better access to signal when they are checking a route, contacting family, running a business or calling for help.”

New analysis shows 42 Shared Rural Network sites have been activated across UK national parks. These include 25 sites in England, 16 in Wales and one in Scotland.

Wales accounts for 12 of the 16 new sites in the Welsh national parks, all in Eryri/Snowdonia. In England, seven sites are in the Lake District and six in the Yorkshire Dales, while the Scottish site is in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.

The Shared Rural Network has now achieved its target of extending 4G coverage to 95% of the UK’s landmass, a year ahead of schedule.