EE’s 4G connects remote emergency services

EE, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Futures Trust and WHP Telecoms Ltd. bring reliable connectivity to 13 new highland locations, helping close signal blackspots and connect emergency services across the most remote areas of Scotland.

Patient safety and critical medical care has been boosted across the Highlands and Islands as new 4G coverage connects Scotland’s most remote emergency services.

Jura Medical Practice is just one of the organisations that is seeing an end to signal ‘blackspots’ thanks to EE’s partnerships with the Scottish Government, WHP Telecoms and Scottish Futures Trust. The new high-speed 4G connectivity, provided by two new masts on the Isle of Jura, will see the Jura Medical Practice able to communicate more effectively with its helicopter landing pad in the event of an emergency, as well as ensure on-call doctors can be reached.

These positive changes are a direct result of 13 new 4G masts that have been installed across the Highlands and Islands this year. These 13 ‘blackspots’ have been connected as part of the Scottish Government’s £28.75 million Scottish 4G Infill programme (S4GI), which is delivering 4G infrastructure and services to areas in rural Scotland which previously had extremely limited mobile coverage.

The project will be activating a further six remote areas across the Highlands and Islands in 2023.

The new sites will provide vital connectivity to Scottish emergency services and Mountain Rescue. Residents, visitors, and businesses will also be able to access and benefit from a reliable 4G mobile service.

Jura Medical Practice has already seen a significant difference since the installation of the Craighouse and Ardlussa masts on the island, enabling it to switch to a modern VoIP phone system and providing reliable connectivity for on-call and locum staff.

The medical practice often uses the life-saving helicopter to transfer patients to mainland hospitals. Previously, the landing site was a signal ‘blackspot’, preventing effective communication between Jura medical teams and the pilots. Yet, with the new 4G coverage, the team can communicate with the helicopter as well as track the progress of the flight, using the flight tracker app over 4G.