Mobile network enhancements in Hawes, North Yorkshire, have gone live, significantly improving connectivity throughout the Yorkshire Dales as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme.
This latest upgrade is part of the government’s £1.3 billion initiative aimed at boosting rural mobile coverage, delivering greater mobile internet access to areas including Hardraw, Appersett, Snaizeholme, and Sedbusk.
Building on existing efforts within the SRN scheme, the upgrades extend 4G connectivity across the North York Moors National Park and surrounding communities such as Helmsley, Nawton, Harome, Wombleton, Great Edstone, Great Habton, Pockley, Cold Kirby, Scawton, Scackleton, Cawton, Little Barugh, Old Byland, and North Grimston. Previously, the infrastructure only supported EE customers and emergency calls, but the recent enhancements now enable residents and businesses to access services from Three, VMO2, and Vodafone.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, emphasised the importance of such initiatives, stating that ongoing national connectivity projects like SRN are vital for ensuring people remain connected in the digital age. She highlighted that faster, more reliable internet access is essential for accessing vital services such as education, healthcare, and banking. Anderson also noted that approximately 19 million people across the UK still lack adequate digital access, with young people being particularly affected, risking falling behind in education and employment opportunities. She pointed to the organisation’s Tech4Youth scheme, recently expanded to the Yorkshire Coast, which provides free laptops to young people needing connectivity support. Such local initiatives, alongside national programmes, are crucial in tackling digital exclusion and ensuring no one is left behind.
The UK government announced that a total of 58 rural 4G mast upgrades have now been completed under the SRN programme. The project has already surpassed the 95% coverage target set for 2024, with plans to continue the rollout until 2027. Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant MP highlighted the broader benefits of improved connectivity, noting that better mobile access allows walkers to navigate more easily, supports local businesses, and enables emergency services to respond more swiftly. He also revealed that the government is investing £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts, currently exclusive to EE, to provide coverage from all UK mobile operators, further strengthening rural connectivity across the country.
