What Is The Shared Rural Network And How Is It Boosting Mobile Signal In Yorkshire?

Picture this. You're out enjoying the stunning views of the North York Moors or wandering through a quaint market town in Yorkshire. You pull out your phone to check a map, send a picture to a mate, or just look up the nearest place for a good cup of tea. And... nothing. Zero bars. That dreaded moment when your phone becomes little more than a paperweight. It's a frustration many people living in or visiting rural areas know all too well. But it seems this is starting to change, thanks to a huge nationwide project that's finally reaching more corners of the county.

A big push to improve mobile coverage is underway, and a new government-funded mast upgrade, announced on 04 Aug 2025, is bringing better connectivity to towns and villages throughout Yorkshire. This effort is part of a larger plan called the Shared Rural Network, and it's tackling those annoying signal dead zones, one mast at a time. For residents, businesses, and anyone just passing through, this means a more reliable mobile network is on the way.

What exactly are 'notspots'?

It's a simple name for a really annoying problem. 'Notspots' are those areas on the map where getting a decent 4G signal is impossible. You might get patchy coverage from one mobile network, but not others, or you might get no signal at all. This is a massive headache in rural communities. Trying to run a business, do homework, or even make an emergency call can be a real struggle without reliable mobile connectivity.

Back in 2019, the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme was launched to get rid of these notspots for good. The goal of the £1.3 billion programme was ambitious: to bring high-quality 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025. The whole idea behind the shared rural project was to build new mobile masts or upgrade existing ones across the UK, ensuring that even remote spots could get a signal. It's a huge step towards making sure your postcode doesn't determine the quality of your mobile coverage.

A team effort to boost connectivity

Fixing the UK's notspots isn't a one-person job. It's a massive team effort between the UK's main mobile network operators and the UK government. The big three operators - EE, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), and the newly formed VodafoneThree - have all chipped in, committing a hefty £532 million to improve 4G coverage. Their investment is managed by a jointly owned company, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), which operates under the brand Mova.

But they aren't doing it alone. The UK government has matched their efforts with over £500 million in public funding. This partnership is designed to level up connectivity across the country, especially in places that commercial networks have found hard to reach. This funded programme is all about sharing the load to build a stronger, more reliable network for everyone, no matter which operator they're with.

How the Shared Rural Network works

The Shared Rural Network programme is being rolled out in two main stages. The first phase, which was set to be completed by 2024, saw all the operators working to upgrade their own infrastructure. The aim was to get rid of 'partial notspots' - those places where you could get coverage from some operators, but not all of them. By extending their 4G networks, they made sure more people could get a signal, regardless of their provider.

The second phase, which is publicly funded and due to finish in 2027, is even more ambitious. This part of the plan involves building brand new, shared masts. These masts are being placed in areas that previously had no mobile service whatsoever. By sharing the masts, all operators can provide coverage from a single structure, which is much more efficient and less intrusive on the landscape. This is the first time such a comprehensive mobile network upgrade has happened across the UK, bringing connectivity to places that have been left behind for too long. Since the SRN began, this has meant that over 10,000 square kilometres have gained mobile network coverage for the first time.

So, what's happening in Yorkshire?

The latest news is a real win for Yorkshire. Right on time for the annual Yorkshire Day celebrations, new mast upgrades have gone live, bringing a major boost to 4G connectivity. This is fantastic news for locals, tourists exploring the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and anyone in the area. The upgrade brings much-needed, reliable mobile coverage from all the main operators. For the first time, people in and around these places will have a choice of network:

• Helmsley
• Nawton & Harome
• Wombleton & Nunnington
• Great Edstone & Great Habton
• Pockley & Cold Kirby
• Scawton & Scackleton
• Cawton & Little Barugh
• Old Byland & North Grimston

What's clever about this upgrade is that it was done by improving existing mobile masts. Before, these masts only provided a signal for EE customers and anyone making 999 calls. Now, they broadcast a 4G signal for customers of all major mobile operators. This means better connectivity without building lots of new structures. So far, the upgrade has improved 4G coverage across 494,033 metres of roads in Yorkshire, making journeys safer and less frustrating.

Ben Roome, the CEO of Mova, the company overseeing the SRN, was clearly pleased with the progress:

"I am delighted that locals and visitors can celebrate Yorkshire Day with enhanced outdoor 4G mobile connectivity from all of the mobile network operators for the first time. The masts, delivered by the Shared Rural Network, in Yorkshire bring connectivity to residents, businesses, and anyone passing through. Thanks to the Shared Rural Network, notspots are shrinking, connections are growing, and more coverage is on its way."

The bigger picture across the UK

While the focus right now is on Yorkshire, this is part of a much wider national success story. Across the UK, this programme is making a real difference. The Shared Rural Network has already provided 4G coverage to an extra 280,000 properties and 16,000km of roads. In fact, the project hit its target of providing coverage from at least one operator to 95% of the UK's landmass at the end of 2024 - a full year ahead of schedule. As of January 2025, that figure stood at 96%.

There are now 58 new and upgraded masts live across the UK as part of the SRN, from the valleys in Wales to the highlands of Scotland. This improved mobile connectivity is helping to close the digital divide between urban and rural areas, giving businesses a chance to thrive and making life a little easier for anyone living outside of a major city. The effort across the UK is a significant step forward in modernising the country's infrastructure.

What's next for the rural network?

The work doesn't stop here. The UK government is also investing another £184 million to upgrade what are known as Extended Area Service (EAS) masts. These masts are part of the Emergency Services Network, and at the moment, commercial coverage from them is only available to EE customers. The new funded plan is to upgrade these masts so that they provide coverage from all UK mobile operators. This means even more comprehensive mobile network access for everyone, ensuring that better, more reliable connectivity continues to spread across the country. For anyone in a rural spot, it's a welcome sign that the era of the notspot is finally coming to an end.