EE has announced that residents and business across Northern Ireland will benefit from improved 4G coverage due to a series of network upgrades.

Across the country, EE has upgraded 139 locations as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN). The £1 billion initiative will extend 4G mobile connectivity to rural communities across the UK that need it most.

Working in partnership with WHP Telecoms, EE has has built a new mobile mast to deliver enhanced 4G coverage across the northern part of the Mid-Ulster district and the eastern part of the Sperrins. This includes the villages of Moneyneany and Draperstown, Spelhoagh Mountain, as well as large sections of the B40, A6 and Glenshane Pass.

At the end of the SRN programme, EE will have upgraded or built 164 sites in Northern Ireland, ensuring rural communities have fast and reliable 4G. This includes the potential for a further 10 new mast sites.

Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), said: "The Shared Rural Network initiative has a strategically important role to play in delivering improved connectivity to businesses and more rural communities across Northern Ireland. To be competitive, businesses in all parts of NI need access to fast and reliable digital infrastructure, so this investment is very good news for the economy.

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"The upgrades from EE will help businesses become better connected to their customers and suppliers, whilst also making everyday transactions like electronic payments, online marketing and banking operate more efficiently."

These upgrades come at a time where UK mobile providers prepare to retire 3G and 2G networks.

Under the Shared Rural Network programme, each of the four UK mobile operators has individual targets to meet which contribute to the overall aim of providing 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK's geographic landmass by the end of 2025.

After upgrading more than 1,500 locations across the UK, EE is on track to meet its UK target of 88 per cent 4G geographic coverage by June 2024.

In Northern Ireland 4G coverage from all mobile operators is targeted to rise to a minimum of 85 per cent by the end of the programme which is up from 79 per cent. EE's 4G network currently covers more than 88 per cent of the country and is on track to reach 89 per cent by the end of 2025 due to these new upgrades.

Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group the parent company of EE, said: "The Shared Rural Network is having a positive impact on the lives of people who live and work in countryside communities across the UK. At EE we’re expanding the reach of our 4G network to deliver widespread and reliable connectivity rural areas can rely on.

"Northern Ireland is renowned for its rich history and heritage, as well as its thriving tourism and agricultural industries. Having boosted 4G connectivity across the country, we’re helping close the digital divide that exists between urban and rural communities and ensuring residents and businesses have the connectivity they need to thrive for decades to come."