Known as the Shared Rural Network (SRN), the industry-led, multi-phase project is aiming to provide reliable mobile broadband to 95% of the country by early 2027, though it’s previously been said that the coverage could be delivered by 2025.

For its first phase, the UK’s four mobile network operators (MNOs) are investing £532m to tackle “partial not-spots” — areas which receive coverage from one but not all operators. The UK government is providing £500m for the project’s second phase, in which areas of no coverage, or “total not-spots,” will be addressed.

However, according to The Telegraph, Vodafone, Three, and Virgin Media O2 have asked the UK government for the first phase’s deadline of June 2024 to be extended by up to two years, due to the “struggle to build new masts in time.” Sources have reportedly said that “it had taken as long as 500 days to receive planning approvals for some sites,” and delays resulting from the pandemic were also cited.

While a spokesperson from Three acknowledged the delays and extension in a statement published by The Telegraph, they also stated that the project remains “on track.”

They said: “We are on track to deliver the overall January 2027 target for 4G geographic coverage under the SRN programme having already built 100 sites and secured planning on 80pc of the new sites that we have committed to.

“However, we have recently written to the government asking for an extension to the June 2024 interim target which was agreed immediately prior to the Covid lockdowns and has been impacted by delays associated with the pandemic.”

A Vodafone spokesperson also allegedly said: “We remain committed to delivering on all elements of the SRN programme and have successfully introduced 4G to rural locations across the UK as part of the wider project which is due for delivery by January 2027.”

Further, a spokesperson for Virgin Media O2 purportedly stated that: “We’re continuing to invest and deliver these upgrades at pace and we expect to either meet or come very close to meeting our own individual target. We are in regular discussions with government and industry, and remain committed to delivering the full benefits of the SRN as soon as possible.”

Recommended reading

• Extended 4G Coverage in Scotland to Boost Rural Connectivity for Hundreds
• Vodafone Expands 4G Coverage to Over 50 Rural Locations
• 50 Rural Sites in UK Receive 4G as Part of £1bn SRN Program

The reports come as the National Audit Office, the UK’s public spending watchdog, is undertaking a review of the SRN. The findings, including whether the government is on track to deliver reliable mobile connectivity across the UK, are scheduled to be released in Winter 2023/24.

Alongside the Shared Rural Network, other broadband-focussed initiatives such as R100, a Scottish government infrastructure programme, and Project Gigabit, the UK government’s flagship fast broadband programme, are also underway.

A few months ago, in June, DIGIT reported on findings from Compare the Market which found that five rural Scottish local authorities — including the Orkney and Shetland Islands — have the UK’s slowest average download speeds, further highlighting the current rural digital divide present in the nation.