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

The Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust have worked in partnership to develop the Scottish 4G Infill Programme (S4GI).  The S4GI programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support activity in the Highlands and Islands.

We are pleased to report the following progress on the mast sites currently in the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) programme.

Live sites

Position on the site map	Site location	Progress update
1	Collieston	4G services are now available from EE
2	Blairmore	4G services are now available from EE
4	Ettrick	4G services are now available from Vodafone and O2
5	Lemreway	4G services are now available from EE
6	Strathconon	4G services are now available from EE
7	New Luce	4G services are now availalbe from Vodafone and EE
8	Tarskavaig	4G services are now available from EE
9	Applecross	4G services are now available from EE
10	Bunessan	4G services are now available from EE
11	Traquair	4G services are now available from EE
12	Glenbarr	4G services are now available from EE
13	Ae	4G services are now available from EE
14	Glenborrodale (formerly referred to as Glencripesdale)	4G services are now available from EE
16	Killilan	4G services are now available from EE
17	Chapeltown	4G services are now available from EE
18	Reawick (formerly referred to as Selivoe)	4G services are now available from EE
19	Whiteropefoot	4G services are now available from EE
20	Ranish	4G services are now available from EE
21	Littlemill	4G services are now available from EE
22	Loch Head	4G services are now available from EE
23	Auchenhessnane	4G services are now available from EE
25	Cairngarroch	4G services are now available from EE
34	Deerness	4G services are now available from EE
36	Burray	4G services are now available from EE

Sites currently at the build stage

Position on the site map	Site location	Progress update
3	Manish	Construction is completed, with power completed and fibre connection ongoing.  4G services from EE are expected to be available late 2021
15	Polbain	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available late 2021
24	Bogton Turriff	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2022
26	Brecklate	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2022
27	Elgol	Construction is completed with power and 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
28	Inverchoran	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2022
29	Rackwick	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
30	Ardlussa	Construction is complete with power and fibre connections ongoing. Once the transmission connection is completed, we will be able to forecast service availability
31	Craighouse	Construction is complete. 4G services from EE are expected to be available spring 2022.
32	Lochbuie	Construction is complete with power and fibre connections ongoing. Once the transmission connection is completed, we will be able to forecast service availability
33	Baymore	Construction is completed. 4G services from EE are expected to be available late 2021
35	Skerray	Construction is completed with power connected and fibre connection ongoing. 4G services from EE are expected to be available ate 2021
40	Garvald	Construction is completed with fibre completed and power connection ongoing. Vodafone and O2 have agreed to use this site and 4G services expected to be available summer 2022
41	Carrine	Construction is completed. Vodafone and O2 have agreed to use this site and 4G services expected to be available summer 2022
42	Applecross Forest	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and Vodafone and O2 have agreed to use this site. Build will commence once the transmission and power solution has been confirmed and approved
43	Balmacara	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and Vodafone and O2 have agreed to use this site. Construction work is underway
44	Deanburnhaugh	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE have agreed to use this site. Construction work is underway
53	Ellemford	Construction is complete with power and fibre connections ongoing. Once the transmission connection is completed, we will be able to forecast service availability

Sites at the pre-build stage

Position on sites map	Site location	Progress update
38	Bruray	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE have agreed to use this site, build to be scheduled
45	Stronachlachlar	Planning permission and landowner consent ongoing. Agreement with a 4G mobile network operator has been reached. Once landowner consent and planning are in place build will commence
46	Ham	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE have agreed to use this site, build to be scheduled
49	Inverie (formerly referred to as Mallaig)	Planning permission and landowner consents are ongoing
50	Kenmore	Planning permission and landowner consents are in place, and EE agreed to use this site. Build scheduled to commence early November 2021

Potential additional candidate sites

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

Site searches and initial discussions with planning authorities, local landowners and mobile network operators continue on these 6. If agreements can be reached, we expect to add these sites to the programme at a later date.

39	Crinan
47	The Craigs
48	Kinlochard
51	Achosnich
52	Kichoman
55	Rottal (formerly referred to as Clova)

Removals from the S4GI Programme

Regrettably, we have no option but to remove the following previously proposed candidate sites from the Scottish 4G Infill Programme. With the following exceptions, this is because no mobile network operators have committed to using them:

* Carrick Castle, Berneray Harbour: removed as commercial services by EE were found to be available in the area.

† Pennan: in addition to no MNO interest, planning permission was refused following local opposition.

‡ Muircroft, Cullipool, Charlestown: removed as EE is now planning to deliver 4G services to these areas on a commercial basis.

Carrick Castle*	Eriskay
Pennan†	Strathyre
Outertown	Watten
Hoy	Clachan Seil
Arnisdale	Cuidrach
Drummuir	Charlestown‡
Bettyhill	Muircroft‡
Garvald (Mendick)	Cullipool‡
Blackhill	Berneray Harbour*

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.