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Rural Wales just got a connectivity upgrade, as seven masts have been boosted in North, South West, and West Wales. These masts previously brought connectivity to EE customers, but now you should be able to get a 4G signal from them on any network.
These upgrades benefit parts of Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch, bringing mobile connectivity to thousands of local businesses, residents, and community organisations.
The masts were upgraded as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) scheme, which is a joint programme between the UK government and mobile networks.
The SRN scheme – which the government and mobile networks are collectively investing over £1 billion into – aims to bring 4G coverage to 95% of the UK (including 98% of England, 95% of Wales, 98% of Northern Ireland, and 91% of Scotland) by the end of 2025.
A small step in a big plan
So these seven mast upgrades are just one small step towards that, but certainly a beneficial one for anyone who lives or works in affected areas.
Speaking about these upgrades, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:
“Powered by UK government investment, 7 new sites in Wales now have fast and reliable mobile internet access in areas where many would previously struggle to even send a text message.
Connectivity is critical for everything in day-to-day life in rural Wales – from business to tourism, and particularly to ensure that emergency services can be contacted quickly and efficiently when they are needed.
This is an important step forward in our mission to kickstart the economy and unlock opportunity in rural areas across Wales.”
By upgrading existing masts as has been done here, connectivity can be brought to more places without the need to build vast numbers of new masts – though some new ones will also be needed to bring 4G to the most cut-off corners of the UK.
So far, there have been 26 government-funded mast upgrades through the SRN, with 20 of them being in Wales, and there are more on the way, with the government saying that further mast upgrades are planned “in the coming months.”
