People living in rural areas of the UK are starting to see improved mobile coverage through the £1-billion mobile connectivity programme.

The Scottish Highlands and Islands, Mid and West Wales and the Northeast of England will continue to see the largest increases in 4G signal.

Scotland will benefit most of the four home nations with coverage from all four mobile network operators (MNOs) to be delivered to three quarters (74%) of Scotland’s landmass by the end of the programme. This is an increase of two thirds and up from 44% currently.

Wales will see the next highest increases – with coverage from all four operators across its geographic areas increased by more than one third, from 60% to 80%.

Northern Ireland will see 4G from all four MNOs rise to 85% of its landmass, up from 79% in 2020. The Northeast of England will see a total 4G coverage jump from 68% to 86%.

All parts of the UK are due to be ‘levelled up’ as a major component of the government scheme, which is hoped will bring “economic and social benefits for people no matter where they live”.

A report commissioned by O2 in early February revealed that the first phase of the new Shared Rural Network (SRN) could also boost rural business turnover by £187.7 million.

Data showed that most of the funds would go to rural Scottish firms, as well as the struggling hospitality sector.

Commenting on the SRN update, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “We’re putting connecting people across the UK at the heart of our plan to build back better, through huge uplifts to mobile coverage in rural areas and the rapid rollout of gigabit broadband.

“Today’s announcements will improve the lives of millions of people in rural parts of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland giving them the connections they need to work, access services and keep in touch – both at home and on the go.”

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The Shared Rural Network was agreed between the government and the country’s biggest MNOs and will see firms sharing their masts to boost people’s mobile signals.

It will close out so-called ‘partial not spots’: areas where some but not all MNOs provide 4G coverage and which stop local people connecting unless they are signed up with a specific available provider.

This latest update indicates a widespread reduction in partial not-spots across Britain since the SRN was brokered by ministers in March last year.

In February this year, EE announced it would upgrade 4G coverage in 579 areas by the end of 2021. At that time, 110 areas had already been upgraded, leaving 469 further areas to be completed. In total, EE says it has has now upgraded 334 areas.

Hamish MacLeod, Director at Mobile UK, added: “The Shared Rural Network is a transformational project backed by a half a billion-pound investment from the mobile operators to extend coverage in rural areas across the country. Mobile operators have already started to deliver on this commitment, with new sites coming online in partial coverage areas.

“We are committed to providing a reliable 4G mobile signal to 95% of the UK’s landmass and improving the experience for people living, working and travelling in rural areas.”