Islay better connected thanks to Shared Rural Network

A second Shared Rural Network total not spot site is now live, boosting mobile connectivity on Islay in Scotland. The publicly funded 4G mast brings service from all operators to areas that previously had no signal, tackling one of Scotland’s most persistent mobile not spots.

Built by EE, the site delivers coverage from all four operators, Three, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone across parts of Kilchoman, Machrie and surrounding areas, plus new coverage to 14 kilometres of roads, paths and tracks.

Reliable 4G from all operators is now available at locations including Machir Bay, Saligo Bay, Loch Gorm and Cultoon Stone Circle, and along Islay’s western coast. The additional coverage supports safer travel and working in remote areas, including for seafarers and fishermen nearby.

Located near Kilchoman, the mast was delivered under the publicly funded total not spot element of the Shared Rural Network (SRN). The UK Government and mobile operators are expanding coverage to rural and hard?to?reach areas, with this second total not spot site following the first going live on Uist. The SRN also includes 120 shared Extended Area Service masts originally built for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) now delivering public coverage across the UK.

Ben Roome, CEO of Mova said:

“People want a connection they can rely on, wherever they are. In less populated, rural, areas, modern 4G does that brilliantly. This site brings mobile broadband to parts of Islay that haven’t had it, making day?to?day life a bit easier for the people who live, work and visit.”

The new coverage has been described as “important” by a local business. Kilchoman Distillery general manager Islay Heads said:

“I think people on the mainland take reliable 4G connectivity for granted, but we certainly don’t. From a business perspective, our visitors are now able to post reviews and photos before they leave the site, something guests often forgot to do before, as they had to wait until they had a mobile signal. We can also now run live presentations and tastings from areas outside the distillery which allows more people to see how our traditional farm distilling process works.

“It makes our ability to communicate with suppliers and team members much quicker as well. In modern business, these sorts of efficiencies are important to our overall success as a local enterprise and international brand.”

Telecoms Minister, Liz Lloyd, said:

“Fast and reliable mobile coverage is absolutely essential for modern life. It helps our emergency services respond to incidents, keeps our businesses growing, and makes it easier for local communities to stay in touch with one another.

“Thanks to the government’s Shared Rural Network Programme, every part of the UK – including Islay’s rural not spots that have previously had no mobile coverage – can finally make the most of the digital age.”

The mast was first identified under the Scottish Government’s S4GI programme, which funded early acquisition including securing planning and landowner consents. While it did not progress through S4GI, delivery via the Shared Rural Network shows collaboration between operators and the UK Government, building on that groundwork established by the Scottish Government.

Since the Shared Rural Network began in 2020, an additional 37,000 square kilometre -an area larger than Wales and Northern Ireland combined - now receives coverage from all four operators: EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone.

For more information on the Shared Rural Network please visit www.srn.org.uk