4G coverage ‘will soon reach 95% of Wales’

PEOPLE in West Wales are set to benefit from a digital infrastructure revolution with huge upticks in high-speed mobile and broadband coverage as part of the UK Government’s plans to level up all parts of the union.

New maps and figures reveal that every electoral region in Wales will see 4G coverage reach at least 95% under the Shared Rural Network (SRN) – a worldfirst £1 billion programme between the UK Government and mobile network operators (MNOS).

The 4G boost comes as the UK Government announces that 234,400 rural Welsh properties including many in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion stuck with slow broadband speeds will be in scope for gigabit upgrades under the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit scheme.

The SRN will see EE, O2, Three and Vodafone build and upgrade phone masts to end so-called ‘partial not-spots’: areas where only some, but not all, mobile network operators (MNOS) provide 4G coverage.

Uplifts in 4G coverage will help power new economic growth and allow people to stay connected, shop online, stream entertainment and work on the go.

Mid and West Wales will see the biggest coverage improvements, with 78% of these regions in range of a 4G signal under the SRN, up from 51% in 2020.

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “We are delivering on our promise to improve Wales’s digital infrastructure which is so important in achieving prosperity for our communities.

“It is vital that all areas of Wales have the connectivity they need to flourish and these plans will ensure that 95% of every part of Wales will soon have 4G coverage.

“As we build back better from the pandemic, the UK Government will continue to support growth, jobs and innovation across all parts of Wales and the UK.”

The broadband projects, which will be funded through the UK Government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit, will prioritise areas which currently have slow connections.