Residents and businesses across North Yorkshire’s rural communities are now benefiting from faster and more reliable mobile internet, following the latest wave of government-funded 4G upgrades under the UK’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme.
The upgrades, which have gone live in Hawes and surrounding areas including Hardraw, Appersett, Snaizeholme and Sedbusk, form part of the £1.3 billion national programme to tackle patchy mobile coverage in remote parts of the UK.
Previously, the area’s mobile masts only supported EE customers and emergency 999 calls, but the infrastructure improvements now enable full connectivity from Three, Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), bringing true multi-operator coverage to one of England’s most scenic but underserved regions.
The new masts build on wider SRN delivery across North Yorkshire, including recent coverage extensions in the North York Moors National Park, Helmsley, Wombleton, and Pockley, among others.
The improvements have been welcomed by digital inclusion advocates, who say enhanced rural mobile access is vital for bridging the UK’s growing digital divide.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, said the expansion of 4G coverage was a crucial step in ensuring more people can access essential services.
“To fully participate in modern society, with services such as education, healthcare and banking shifting online, connectivity is a necessity rather than a luxury,” Anderson said. “It’s excellent to see the 4G rollout reaching Yorkshire.”
She noted that 19 million people across the UK still lack sufficient digital access, including broadband, digital devices and skills — particularly among young people, who risk falling behind in education and employment.
To help tackle this issue, the Digital Poverty Alliance has expanded its Tech4Youth scheme to the Yorkshire Coast, supplying free laptops to young people in need of digital support. Anderson said that such local initiatives, when combined with national investment programmes like SRN, can have “a transformational impact on lives across the country.”
The UK government confirmed that 58 rural 4G mast upgrades have now gone live under the SRN programme. The scheme has already met its 2024 target of delivering 95% 4G coverage from at least one operator across the UK, but further work is planned through to 2027.
The government is also investing £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts — which currently only support EE — to allow access from all four mobile network operators.
Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Telecoms, said the rollout was central to the government’s wider ambitions for growth, digital transformation and levelling up.
“The Shared Rural Network means walkers can navigate more easily and access information on the go, local businesses can benefit from being better connected, and emergency services can respond faster when needed,” Bryant said.
“This is connectivity that breaks down digital barriers and unlocks economic potential in Yorkshire’s world-class beauty — all of which supports our Plan for Change.”
The SRN is a joint initiative between government and mobile operators, co-funded to ensure that rural areas are not left behind as mobile networks expand nationally.
As demand for always-on connectivity grows across all sectors — from agriculture to tourism — improved mobile access is set to play a critical role in supporting rural resilience and economic recovery.