The Shared Rural Network (SRN) in the UK aims to eliminate mobile not-spots by delivering 95% 4G coverage by 2025. Launched in 2020, it has upgraded over 58 rural masts, addressing digital inequality in regions like the Highlands and Yorkshire Dales. Improved connectivity supports farmers, local businesses, and emergency services, enhancing productivity and public safety. The SRN also facilitates access to digital healthcare and remote education, which have become critical services, especially during challenging times. This initiative aims to reshape life in often-overlooked rural areas.
"The SRN is enabling farmers to use agri-tech, holiday parks to manage bookings on the move, and local tradespeople to process digital payments without relying on patchy WiFi," said a source from Mobile UK, the industry body representing UK mobile operators.
"It's a game-changer for local resilience, and it's boosting productivity in places often forgotten by the digital economy."
Stronger rural connectivity supports more than just private enterprise. It enhances emergency services, enabling faster and more reliable coordination in hard-to-reach locations, especially for mountain rescue teams, paramedics, and rural police forces.
The SRN also facilitates access to digital healthcare and remote education - services that became lifelines during the pandemic.
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