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Mobile Connectivity Transforming Culture and Heritage
A new Mobile UK mini-report, Transforming Culture and Heritage in the Digital Age, explores how mobile connectivity, particularly 4G and 5G, is reshaping the UK’s culture and heritage sector.
The report highlights that the sector, which contributes £34 billion annually and sustains millions of jobs, faces challenges from rising costs, digital exclusion, and changing audience expectations. Yet mobile technology is offering powerful tools for renewal, helping cultural institutions reach wider audiences, deliver immersive experiences, and make heritage more inclusive.
From augmented-reality storytelling in Sherwood Forest to 5G-enabled virtual tours at the Roman Baths and accessibility improvements in the Lake District, case studies show how better connectivity is breathing new life into treasured sites.
However, the report warns that digital exclusion could cost the UK economy up to £10 billion a year by 2030, emphasising the urgency of ensuring robust infrastructure across both urban and rural areas. Mobile UK calls for mobile infrastructure to be recognised as a strategic national priority, enabling every museum, gallery, and heritage site, no matter how remote, to benefit from strong, reliable connectivity.
“Mobile connectivity is not just a technological upgrade; it’s the foundation for a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready heritage sector,” the report concludes.
Read the full report here
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RSN Comment The Rural Services Network welcomes Mobile UK’s recognition of the essential role that mobile connectivity plays in supporting access, inclusion and cultural participation. As highlighted in our Delivering for All campaign, digital and mobile connectivity is one of the key foundations for unlocking rural prosperity. Yet too many rural areas remain digitally disadvantaged with limited 4G, 5G and gigabit coverage holding back local economies, services and opportunities. We continue to call for full delivery of the Shared Rural Network and sustained investment in rural digital infrastructure, ensuring that every community, large or small can access the culture, learning and innovation that connectivity makes possible. |
