Publication - Factsheet

Scottish 4G infill programme: progress update

Published: 9 Jun 2020

Directorate:: Digital Directorate
Part of:: Business, industry and innovation, Economy, Farming and rural

Progress made on the mast sites currently in the Scottish 4G Infill programme and information about how mast sites progress to delivery.

Published:: 9 Jun 2020

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:

From 23 March 2020, all construction work on the programme was suspended owing to the Covid-19 epidemic. Any sites previously in-build were made safe until work can resume.

Sites Live

Position on the sites map	Site location	Progress update
7	New Luce	This mast is complete. 4G services are now available from Vodafone, with services from EE expected to be available later this year.

Sites currently at Build Stage

Position on the sites map	Site location	Progress update
1	Collieston	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence once current Covid-19 restrictions permit.
2	Blairmore	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work is currently suspended during current Covid-19 restrictions. Currently we expect service live to be within 12 months but this may be delayed as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions and will be kept under tight review.
4	Ettrick	Construction of the mast is complete and awaits power supply. Work is currently suspended during current Covid-19 restrictions. 4G services from Vodafone and O2 are expected to be available later this year.
5	Lemreway	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work is currently suspended during current Covid-19 restrictions. Currently we expect service live to be within 12 months but this may be delayed as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions and will be kept under tight review.
6	Strathconon	Construction of the mast is complete, and the Programme is working with the operator to bring the site into service.
8	Tarskavaig	Construction of the mast is complete and awaits power supply and operator equipment. Work is currently suspended during current Covid-19 restrictions. Currently we expect service live to be within 12 months but this may be delayed as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions and will be kept under tight review.
9	Applecross	Construction of the mast is complete and the Programme is working with the operator to bring the site into service.
12	Glenbarr	Construction of the mast is complete and the Programme is working with the operator to bring the site into service as quickly as possible.
18	Selivoe	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work is currently suspended during current Covid-19 restrictions.
19	Whitropefoot	Construction of the mast is complete. The Programme is working with the operator to bring the site into service once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
21	Little Mill	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work is currently suspended during current Covid-19 restrictions.

Sites at Pre-Build Stage

Position on the sites map	Site location	Progress update
3	Manish	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence once current Covid-19 restrictions permit.
10	Bunessan	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence once current Covid-19 restrictions permit.
11	Traquair	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.
13	Ae	Planning permission and landowner consent are in place and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use this site. Construction work will commence once current Covid-19 restrictions permit.
14	Glencripesdale	Planning permission and landowner consent are in place and a 4G mobile network operator has agreed to use the mast. Construction work will commence once current Covid-19 restrictions permit.
15	Polbain	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.
16	Killian	Planning permission is in place and we have reached an agreement with a 4G mobile network operator to use the site has been reached. Once agreement with a landowner is reached we will provide further updates with an indicative delivery timescale.
17	Chapeltown	Planning permission is in place and we have reached an agreement with a 4G mobile network operator to use the site has been reached. Once agreement with a landowner is reached we will provide further updates with an indicative delivery timescale.
20	Ranish	Planning permission and landowner consent are being sought. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once planning permission and landowner consent is in place, we will provide and update with an indicative delivery timescale.
22	Loch Head	Planning permission is in place and we have reached an agreement with a 4G mobile network operator to use the site has been reached. Once agreement with a landowner is reached we will provide further updates with an indicative delivery timescale.
23	Auchenhessnane	Planning permission is in place and we have reached an agreement with a 4G mobile network operator to use the site has been reached. Once agreement with a landowner is reached we will provide further updates with an indicative delivery timescale.
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.
25	Cairngarroch	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.
28	Inverchoran	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.
29	Rackwick	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.
33	Baymore	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.
34	Deerness	Planning permission is in place and we have reached an agreement with a 4G mobile network operator to use the site has been reached. Once agreement with a landowner is reached we will provide further updates 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.
36	Burray	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 4 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

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
Burray
Deanburnhaugh
Arnisdale
Stronachlachar
Ham
Drummuir
Bettyhill
Garvald
Mallaig
Eriskay
Strathyre
Watten
Clachan Seil
Kilchoman
Cuidrach
Clova
Garvald
Bruray
Crinan
Carrine
Kinlochard
Berneray Harbour
Applecross Forest
Balmacara

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 supplier in the programme – 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.