Signal boost across Scotland!

A Shared Rural Network mast, near Lockerbie and funded by the UK government, is the first of 120 planned upgrades to bolster 4G signal reception across Scotland.

Vodafone customers living and working in parts of the Scottish Borders are benefiting from reliable and fast Vodafone 4G thanks to the completion of the first Shared Rural Network (SRN) mast funded by the UK government.

The mast, located close to Lockerbie, is the first of more than 120 planned mast upgrades across Scotland resulting from the Government’s £75m investment into the SRN programme. Residents, businesses and visitors are now enjoying faster and more reliable data speeds, as well as better-quality voice calls, with the arrival of Vodafone to the area.

The mast hosts equipment installed by the Vodafone team on behalf of Three and Virgin Media O2, with EE 4G also available on the mast. The four operators are improving 4G coverage across the UK as part of the wider £1bn SRN programme.

This particular mast is also one of 292 Extended Area Service (EAS) masts that are being built for the Home Office-led Emergency Services Network (ESN). This system will enable fast, safe and secure voice, video and data across the 4G network to give first responders immediate access to life-saving data, images and information in live situations and emergencies on the frontline.

The investment is part of an ongoing network modernisation programme which will see Vodafone retiring its 3G network in 2023 and replacing it with strengthened 4G and 5G services, so customers can access a more reliable connection.