Scottish 4G infill programme: progress update

Find out more about the Scottish 4G Infill programme using the following links:

• progress updates on mast sites
• potential additional candidate sites
• sites being removed from S4GI
• how mast sites progress to delivery

Progress updates on mast sites

We are pleased to report the following progress on the mast sites currently in the Scottish 4G Infill programme.
Following a pause in build and site activities which came into effect on 23 March 2020, work has now resumed following current COVID-19 guidelines. 

We are delighted to confirm that six sites previously removed from the programme have been reinstated, with the programme having now secured the interest of a mobile network operator(s) in using the sites. The sites are: Garvald, Carrine, Applecross Forest, Bruray, Crinan and Balmacara

Sites live
 

Position on the sites map	Site location	Progress update
2	Blairmore	4G services are now available from EE.
4	Ettrick	4G services are now available from Vodafone and O2.
6	Strathconon	4G services are now available from EE.
7	New Luce	This mast is complete. 4G services are now available from Vodafone, and 4G services will be available from EE in the coming months.
18	Selivoe	4G services from EE are now available.
21	Little Mill	4G services from EE are now available.

Sites currently at Build Stage

Position on the sites map	Site location	Progress update
1	Collieston	Construction work has completed.  4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2021.
3	Manish	Construction work is underway. 4G services from EE are expected to be available summer 2021.
5	Lemreway	Construction work is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available early 2021.
8	Tarskavaig	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available early 2021.
9	Applecross	Construction is completed with transmission connection ongoing and EE has agreed to use this site. Once the transmission connection is completed, we will be able to forecast service availability.
10	Bunessan	Construction work is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2021.
11	Traquair	Construction work is underway. 4G services from EE are expected to be available summer 2021.
12	Glenbarr	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available early 2021.
13	Ae	Construction work is underway. 4G services from EE are expected to be available summer 2021.
14	Glencripesdale	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2021.
15	Polbain	Construction work is underway. 4G services from EE are expected to be available summer 2021.
16	Killilan	Construction is completed with a power connection ongoing. 4G services from EE are expected to be available summer 2021.
17	Chapeltown	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2021.
19	Whitropefoot	Construction work has completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available early 2021.
20	Ranish	Construction work is underway. 4G services from EE are expected to be available next year.
22	Loch Head	Construction work is underway. 4G services from EE are expected to be available next year.
23	Auchenhessnane	Construction work is completed with fibre and power connections ongoing. 4G services from EE are expected to be available Summer 2021.
25	Cairngarroch	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE has agreed to use this site. Construction work has started late November.
28	Inverchoran	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence in December.
29	Rackwick	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence in January.
33	Baymore	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence in January.
34	Deerness	Construction is completed with the transmission connection ongoing. 4G services from EE are expected to be available summer 2021.
36	Bruray	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE has agreed to use this site. Construction work has started late November.

Sites at Pre-Build Stage

Position on the sites map	Site location	Progress update
24	Bogton Turiff	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
26	Brecklate	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
27	Glasnakille	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
30	Ardlussa	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
31	Craighouse	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
32	Kinlochspelve	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
35	Skerray	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.
43	Garvald	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and an MNO has just recently agreed to use this site. Build will commence early next year.
44	Carrine	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and an MNO has just recently agreed to use this site.  Build will commence early next year.
45	Applecross Forest	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and an MNO has just recently agreed to use this site. Build will commence early next year.
46	Balmacara	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent are in place, we will provide an update with an indicative delivery timescale.

Potential additional candidate sites

We are investigating the addition of the following 6 candidate sites into the programme.  

Site searches and initial discussions with planning authorities, local landowners and mobile network operators are underway. If agreements can be reached, we expect to add these sites to the programme at a later date.

Position on the sites map	Site location
37	Muircroft
38	Cullipool
39	Charlestown
40	Blackhill
41	Bruray
42	Crinan

Sites being removed from S4GI

Regrettably, we have no option but to remove the following previously proposed candidate sites from the Scottish 4G Infill Programme. 

This is because no mobile network operators have committed to using them. In addition, at Pennan, the proposed mast was unsuccessful in achieving planning permission from the local planning authority.

• Pennan*
• Outertown
• Hoy
• Deanburnhaugh
• Arnisdale
• Stronachlachar
• Ham
• Drummuir
• Bettyhill
• Mallaig
• Kilchoman
• Cuidrach
• Clova
• Garvald (Mendick)
• Kinlochard
• Berneray Harbour
• Eriskay
• Strathyre
• Watten
• Clachan Seil

How mast sites progress to delivery

Building a mobile mast from initial site selection to the final switch-on is a lengthy process involving several important stages. These can be complex and take time to achieve. 

When a mast site is included in the programme, WHP Telecoms Ltd – the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Provider – begins site acquisition activity in order to achieve each of three fundamental consents to progress delivery of the mast. 

These are: 

• agreed terms with a landowner
• achievement of planning permission from the local planning authority
• commitment from at least one mobile network operator (EE, O2, Three, Vodafone) to providing 4G mobile services from that site

WHP Telecoms Ltd. is currently involved in intensive discussions with potential landlords, planning authorities, communities and mobile network operators to achieve these three consents.

During this process the exact site location is determined. This can differ from the indicative locations denoted by national grid references previously published by the Scottish Government.

All three of these consents must be in place before any physical mast build will take place.  At this stage, we will be in a position to give an indicative timeline for delivery of mobile services.

If all three consents cannot be achieved, then regrettably that site will not be able to progress. However, we will keep the site under review should circumstances change.

Mobile masts also require a power supply and backhaul (ideally using fibre or alternatively a microwave connection back to national telecoms networks). Both must be at a cost that is affordable within the overall programme budget. In parallel with the site acquisition process, WHP Telecoms Ltd. is currently in active discussion with power and backhaul suppliers to achieve this.  Costs could be high if the local topography is challenging or if the site is distant from the nearest fibre route or electricity supply.

Once all of the above elements are in place, the mast will progress to the construction phase. Once completed, the mobile network operator can complete the process by installing their equipment and switching on the service.  

The programme will provide regular progress updates on this website with clear reasons should any masts be unable to progress.