The U.K. government has backed a £1 billion ($1.3 billion) deal with four major mobile network operators that would make 4G mobile coverage available to 95 percent of the United Kingdom by 2025.
The initiative was designed to boost coverage in rural areas of the country, according to Total Telecom. The four mobile network operators — Vodafone, Three (3), EE and O2 — have promised to invest £530 million ($682 million) in the project, with the U.K. government investing the remaining £500 million ($644 million).
According to Derek McManus, COO of O2, only 67 percent of the country receives 4G coverage from all four operators, while 7 percent receives no coverage from any operator.
“This situation was not going to change significantly under the old approach, because it did not address a fundamental challenge: that demand in many rural areas is not enough to cover the cost of mobile infrastructure investment,” said McManus.
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