Planned network of 258 new 4G masts reduced to just 44 under revised Shared Rural Network plans
A UK Government-backed initiative to boost mobile connectivity across rural Scotland has been significantly scaled back, with plans to install 258 new 4G masts reduced by more than 80 per cent following pressure from environmental groups and rural stakeholders.
The Shared Rural Network (SRN), designed to address mobile coverage blackspots, will now proceed with just 44 new mast installations. The original plans were met with strong objections from organisations including Scottish Land & Estates, the John Muir Trust, and the National Trust for Scotland, along with several community councils.
Critics argued that many of the proposed masts were to be placed in remote locations where few people live or work, potentially harming Scotland’s natural landscapes while failing to address the needs of communities still in “Total Not Spot” areas — where there is no coverage from any mobile provider.
Anna Gardiner, senior policy adviser at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The original plan was flawed, prioritising geographical targets over real connectivity needs. The focus should be on delivering coverage to rural communities and businesses that remain completely offline.”
John Muir Trust’s head of campaigns, Thomas Widrow, added: “Connectivity is vital, but it must not come at the cost of damaging Scotland’s wildest and most sensitive landscapes. We need targeted investment in places where people live and work — not in fragile, remote areas.”
In response to the revised plans, Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant defended the progress made under the SRN programme, which he said had already delivered mobile improvements to more than 95 per cent of the UK, ahead of schedule.
“Our updated approach will ensure new coverage is prioritised in areas where it is genuinely needed — where people live, work or travel,” said Bryant. “This includes better service along key rural walking routes and transport corridors.”
While environmental campaigners welcomed the revision, there are renewed calls for the UK Government to reinvest the savings into improving connectivity in genuinely underserved communities.
“This is not about halting progress,” said Gardiner. “It’s about ensuring that progress benefits those who need it most.”
