Vodafone has announced that 57 rural locations across the UK are now also receiving 4G broadband coverage.

The arrival of Vodafone 4G at sites in locations from the Orkney Islands to Devon means residents, businesses and visitors are now enjoying faster and more reliable data speeds as well as better quality voice calls.

Scotland hosts the majority of sites benefiting from the new broadband, which is part of the SRN programme – a £1 billion joint initiative between the UK Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators.

The SRN initiatives uses mast sharing on existing sites in rural areas where one or more providers, but not all, have coverage. It will also build new shared masts to connect areas that currently have no coverage at all, resulting in a combined cross-operator network reach of 95% of the UK landmass by the end of 2025.

Across the four UK operators, Scotland will see 4G coverage rise to at least 74%. Northern Ireland will see a rise of at least 85%, with England rising to 90% and Wales set to rise to 80%.

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Minister Julia Lopez said: “The £1 billion Shared Rural Network is a key part of our plan to make patchy mobile phone reception a thing of the past and give people great connectivity wherever they live. Vodafone is working tirelessly to boost 4G coverage in rural areas and it’s great to see the progress being made.

“We are making sure our countryside communities don’t miss out on the speed and efficiency of internet services on the go – from keeping in touch with family to running a business.”

The initiative is in an effort to lessen the rural technology divide, elevating rural and remote areas in the UK to a higher digital ability.

While rural areas are just now receiving 4G, half the UK is set to benefit from full fibre broadband as soon as this month, according to Ofcom.

In full fibre rollout, however, Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK.

Andrea Dona, UK Network and Development Director for Vodafone said: “Connectivity is vital for everyone, which is why we are continually investing in our network. But connecting rural and hard-to-reach parts of the UK can be difficult and restricted by cost.

“The Shared Rural Network initiative enables the UK network operators to work together, so people living and working in such areas have a choice of network, as well as the connectivity they need to support local businesses and ultimately the wider UK economy.”

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Scottish locations due to benefit from 4G include: four sites across Tarbet, Argyll; four sites across Isle of Harris; three sites across Isle of Mull; Selkirk, Scottish Borders; Invergarry , Highland; Braemar, Aberdeenshire; Newton Stewart, Dumfriesshire; Lairg, Highland; Dalmally, Argyllshire; Alford, Abderdeenshire; Malaig, Highland; Cupar, Fife; Callander, Stirlingshire; Pitochry, Perth and Kinross; Invergarry, Highland; North Uist; Orkney Islands; Glenmoriston, Highland; Loch Dubh, Isle of Lewis; Invergarry, Highland; Buckie, Moray; Invergarry, Highland; Strathcarron, Highlands; Innerleithen, Scottish Borders; Balmacara, Kyle.

The activity builds on the multi-billion pound investment Vodafone has already made to bring 4G coverage to 99% of UK premises.

Vodafone is also exploring new mast technologies, such as OpenRAN, which is already starting to support delivery of coverage in a number of rural communities.