Virgin Media O2 has delivered its 100th site as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) program.
The UK telco achieved the milestone by delivering the 4G masts by helicopter to the Isle of Skye.
The SRN is aimed at supporting some of the UK's most remote areas and is supported by the mobile industry and government to increase all operators’ 4G coverage to 90 percent of UK landmass and their aggregate coverage to 95 percent by 2027.
It's a £1 billion ($1.27bn) partnership between the four carriers and the UK government to deliver more reliable connectivity to the country's most remote locations.
Of the 100 sites that Virgin Media O2 has deployed, 78 are in some of the most remote parts of Scotland, while 19 are in rural parts of England, including parts of Yorkshire, Suffolk and Kent, and three are in Northern Ireland.
“This investment is vital to ensure we provide fast and reliable coverage to all areas of the UK. With so much of our modern life taking place online, rural communities deserve the same standard of mobile connectivity as those in urban areas, and we’re proud to be stepping up and playing our part," said Jeanie York, CTO at Virgin Media O2.
“The 100 sites we have delivered will mean that more residents, businesses, and visitors in rural areas can benefit from better mobile coverage, with more locations to follow in the coming months. This work is vital in tackling the urban-rural digital divide that exists in the UK.”
Last month, EE completed the first phase of its SRN coverage rollout six months ahead of schedule.
