The Shared Rural Network (SRN) has already delivered its core objective, 4G mobile coverage from at least one mobile network operator to 95% of UK landmass, a year ahead of schedule. However, there are still rural areas of the UK where there is either limited or no mobile coverage, and the SRN continues to deliver new coverage to these communities. We have already upgraded 110 of 190 Home Office masts and activated the first of up to 44 new total not-spot masts which are already delivering new 4G coverage in the most rural areas. While the SRN will not remove every total not spot, it is designed to deliver coverage where it will have the greatest benefit, primarily where people live, work and travel. On this basis, Government assesses that the current delivery model is a proportionate and cost-effective way of addressing the majority of connectivity gaps in rural areas while ensuring value for public money.

In the North East, the Shared Rural Network is currently planning to upgrade nine Home Office Emergency Services Network sites across the regions of Durham and Northumbria. The programme has primarily engaged with Northumberland County Council who the department has met with twice in the last six months. Previously the Department and its delivery partner Mova have engaged with the Borderlands Partnership and spoken to key audiences at Connected North. The Department and Mova have also responded to enquires from local stakeholders, including elected members.

The Department and its delivery partner Mova have engaged with relevant stakeholders across the country through frequent progress meetings targeted at key stakeholders from Wales, Scotland and England. Relevant stakeholders include the UK's mobile network operators, devolved governments, local authorities in rural areas, planning departments, statutory organisations, representative bodies, and key enabling stakeholders such as SSE. The Department regularly engages with MPs, MSPs and MSs on the progress of the programme through written updates and MP drop in events. Furthermore, the Department and Mova also regularly respond to enquiries from local stakeholders, including Councillors, and Parish and Community Councils.

I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, to the answer of 25 July 2025 to Question 68570: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, to the answer of 25 July 2025 to Question 68571: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

The first part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN), which targeted areas of the UK that have 4G coverage from at least one, but not all, mobile network operators was completed last year and covered a greater area of UK landmass than originally expected, putting it ahead of schedule. 4G coverage across the UK continues to increase and is currently at 95.6%.

This has allowed the Government and the mobile network operators to reassess the delivery strategy for the Government funded elements of the SRN and specifically agree on a more targeted approach to delivery of the total not-spot project focussing publicly funded infrastructure on where it is most needed, in areas primarily where people live, work, or travel, including walking and hiking routes.

The Shared Rural Network began in March 2020 and has already achieved its main target, extending 4G mobile coverage to over 95% of UK landmass, which was achieved a year ahead of its December 2025 target and verified by Ofcom in May 2025. The programme has also met its targets to improve mobile coverage for an extra 280,000 premises and 16,000km of roads. However, there are still rural parts of the UK where there is either limited or no mobile coverage, and we will continue to work with the industry to deliver new coverage to these rural communities until the programme is due to complete in January 2027.

Ofcom is responsible for assessing the 4G coverage improvements delivered by the Shared Rural Network. Its latest published figures show that 4G now reaches over 95% of UK landmass. This means that the Shared Rural Network met its overarching target a year ahead of schedule. The delivery of the programme was always due to continue until January 2027, at which point Ofcom will assess further coverage improvements from the publicly-funded parts of the programme.

According to the latest information published by Ofcom, outdoor 4G coverage in Rushcliffe, from all four operators currently stands at 99% and coverage from at least one mobile network operator is almost 100%. Consequently, there will not be any further coverage improvements from the Shared Rural Network in Rushcliffe.

My officials recently met Mobile UK to discuss a range of issues affecting the mobile industry currently, in their role as the trade association for the UK’s mobile network operators. This included Ofcom’s coverage reporting, and what we can do to work together to address areas of limited or no coverage.

Across Tewkesbury, outdoor 4G coverage from all four operators has increased to 95% up from 87%, since the Shared Rural Network programme begun in March 2020. These improvements were delivered via the industry-led element of the SRN which has now completed. There will not be any further coverage improvements in Tewkesbury from the programme.

The locations of proposed government-funded Total Not Spot masts can be found at https://srn.org.uk/about/srn-tns-site-locations/,however this is due to be updated soon, as we now expect the objectives for this part of the programme to be met with far fewer masts. We are currently in the final stages of following the necessary processes with the mobile network operators to approve the details before they can be shared publicly. Details of the Home Office masts that will be upgraded for the Shared Rural Network are not publicly available as not all Home Office masts will be viable for the programme, but my officials will write to you with details of the sites that will be upgraded in your constituency.

Ofcom reporting indicates areas of poor mobile coverage across the UK. The Government has worked closely with the mobile network operators to identify locations where upgrading or building new masts can improve connectivity in rural areas where there is no or limited coverage, including utilising the Emergency Service Network (ESN) where feasible. The location of masts is also determined according to how quickly they can be delivered and the public benefit they provide.

According to the latest information published by Ofcom outdoor 4G coverage In South Holland and the Deepings, from all four operators, currently stands at 96% and coverage from at least one mobile network operator is almost 100%. Consequently, there will not be any further coverage improvements from the Shared Rural Network in South Holland and the Deepings, and no Shared Rural Network projects are underway.

Since July 2024, we have activated 40 government funded masts under the Shared Rural Network, providing new 4G coverage to rural communities across Great Britain. At the end of 2024 Ofcom confirmed that the programme had also hit its objective of helping to deliver 95% coverage a year ahead of schedule. In Mid Dorset and North Poole, outdoor 4G coverage from all four operators has increased to 92% up from 85% since the programme begun in March 2020. There will not be any further coverage improvements from the Shared Rural Network in Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Feedback from community councils and special interest groups play an important role in agreeing the best locations for new infrastructure as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN). Both the government and the four mobile network operators have worked with stakeholders across Scotland to ensure the benefits of new sites are balanced with any environmental impacts and other concerns.

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) has already delivered significant coverage improvements across the UK. However, there are still rural parts of the UK where there is either limited or no mobile coverage. The government-funded parts of the SRN will deliver this new coverage by utilising existing Home Office masts across Great Britain and building new masts in Scotland. We continue to work with the four mobile network operators to minimise the number of new masts required in Scotland and now expect to meet this part of the programme’s objectives with far fewer masts than originally planned. We expect to reach a position on exactly how many new masts will be built in Scotland soon.

We can confirm that four EAS masts have already been activated for the Shared Rural Network (SRN) and are delivering new 4G mobile coverage from all four mobile network operators across Ceredigion Preseli.

We continue to work with Building Digital UK (BDUK) and the operators to activate the remaining five masts for the SRN. BDUK officials have informed me that the Hon. Member has signed up for the next BDUK MP drop-in session and they would be happy to update him further on SRN EAS progress in Ceredigion Preseli then.

North Cornwall has already benefited from the industry-funded part of the Shared Rural Network which aimed to tackle the majority of partial not-spots across the UK. In North Cornwall, 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators has risen from 68% to 83%, and 99% of the constituency now has 4G coverage from at least one mobile network operator, up from 97% at the start of the programme. This part of the programme has now been completed, and we do not expect there to be further improvements in this constituency from the programme.