EE has partnered with Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) to fit a mast at the base of Ben Nevis with radio antenna and cabling that will support search and rescue operations in the area.

As well as providing covers for mountain rescue teams, the site will also deliver connectivity to EE customers in the area, and support the Emergency Services Network, a critical 4G communications system for dedicated use by first responders.

Situated at Glen Nevis, the spot is a prime location to support LMRT’s need for shadow coverage in the Ben Nevis area, lighting up areas which previously received no coverage due to ‘shadows’ caused by the natural terrain.

The new equipment will also give coverage for the notorious ‘not-spot’ at the very top of the Glen.

Working together, LMRT and EE deployed a single antenna and cable to the mast, giving the radio system more range and making communications more effective during search and rescue operations.

“Communications play a vital role in all of our rescue operations,” said Ian Pooleman, secretary and medical officer, LMRT.

“We primarily use VHF radios to communicate with our base and other team members on the hill. We have had communication challenges in Glen Nevis and some aspects of Ben Nevis for many years, and the opportunity to locate a ‘repeater’ on this tower, with the support of BT Group, will make our operations safer and more efficient.”

LMRT said that the new system provides an additional layer of safety which previously did not exist, with the team already having responded to 17 callouts in the two months since the new radio equipment was installed.

It’s also given coverage to two further areas which previously had no coverage near Steall Waterfall, a popular area for hikers, while a further nine areas of Ben Nevis have had their coverage significantly improved. 

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According to BT Group, which supports networking infrastructure across the UK, the newly installed antenna demonstrates an innovative use case in using the wireless estate to reinforce wider digital needs, minimising unnecessary duplicate builds.

David McKean, BT Group’s Tower Division director, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team’s search and rescue efforts through the deployment of vital communications equipment on our tower at Glen Nevis.”

“This is a simple yet effective example of how we can diversify the use of our portfolio of physical assets, many of which are in remote locations, to support the UK’s broader digital needs and connect more people for good, both now and into the future.”