4G arrives on Shetland as EE aims to connect 95% of the UK

A major new investment in high-speed communications technology has just been started on the Shetland Islands, bringing 4G mobile connectivity to the Islands for the first time.

EE, the UK’s largest mobile operator and part of BT, today announced it had switched on its superfast 4G mobile network on Shetland, covering the Lerwick area. EE will continue to switch on 4G sites throughout 2016, and will complete coverage across all of the islands by summer 2017. With access to speeds 50% quicker than any other UK network, residents, businesses and visitors can now benefit from superfast internet access on smartphones, tablets and a range of other 4G enabled devices.

Neil Grant, Director Economic Development for Shetland Council, said:

“The switch on of EE’s 4G network is hugely important to Shetland. Not just for businesses on the islands, but also to make it a place that people want to live, work in and visit. From local residents to businesses, there is a growing reliance on mobile devices to provide greater access to information and enable easier communication with customers.”

The new service arrives on the islands as new EE chief executive, Marc Allera, announces ambitions to connect 95% of the UK landmass, including the most extreme reaches of the country. With 65,000 visitors to the islands every year, bringing 4G to Shetland demonstrates EE’s growing focus on bringing 4G to areas of the UK that people visit, as well as where they live. Today, superfast 4G was also switched on in the Isles of Scilly – almost 1,000 miles away at the opposite end of the country.

Marc Allera, EE chief executive, said:

“We’ve seen the difference that 4G can make right across the UK, and I’m delighted to be able to continue making that difference in one of the most remote parts of the UK. This project shows the power of the BT Group as a digital champion for the UK, making new investments to bring high-speed communications to even the most challenging locations.”