UK football fans are gearing up for a very different summer of football, with late‑night kick‑offs set to change how, when and where people watch, according to new research from EE, the lead partner of the Home Nations Football Associations. The tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will bring late evening and overnight matches. As a result, over 80% of fans in the UK say the timing will affect how many matches they watch live.

Many fans are already planning to adapt their viewing. A quarter say they will mainly watch the biggest matches live, such as their team’s games or knockout rounds, while others expect to watch fewer live games overall or rely more on highlights and updates.

At the same time, fans are clear about what matters most: seeing the big moments as they happen. More than four in five (82%) say they would be frustrated if a stream cut out and they missed a key moment like a goal, and nearly a quarter (23%) say it would spoil the match completely.

Almost eight in ten (79%) are concerned about the ‘roar before the score’, saying they would be upset if they found out about a goal before seeing it on their own screen - whether through notifications, group chats or simply hearing people nearby celebrating. Delays are just as painful, with 93% saying it is important that live matches are shown with as little delay as possible.

This matters even more as viewing habits evolve. While this summer’s football action remains a TV event for most, younger fans are watching and following differently. Among 18–24s, only 30% expect to use traditional broadcast TV, with more turning to social media (43%) to get updates or highlights to keep up with the matches.

With late kick-offs pushing more fans to catch up, avoiding the result has become part of how people will follow them. More than three quarters (76%) of fans say they will take steps to avoid finding out the result before catching up on action they have missed - from avoiding social media and news apps, to muting notifications or staying away from their phones entirely.

The basics of the viewing experience still come first. Fans rank no buffering, no delays and better picture quality as the most important factors when streaming live sport, well ahead of more advanced features like alternative camera angles, real‑time stats or personalised highlights.

Late-night kick-offs could also change where people watch. While major tournaments have traditionally been social occasions, fewer fans expect to watch in pubs or fan zones for this tournament, with more opting to stay at home. Even so, the shared experience remains important: a third of fans regularly use a second screen while watching live sport, whether to check other scores, talk to friends or follow reactions online.

And with many fans relying on streaming and mobile updates, two thirds (66%) say a reliable mobile or broadband connection will be extremely or very important to their experience of watching the matches

Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT, which operates the EE network, said: “This summer’s tournament is one of those rare moments that captures the imagination of football fans across the UK, bringing people together through a shared passion for the game. Whether fans are watching at home, with friends or in the pub, witnessing the action live matters enormously. EE’s research shows that even short delays or interruptions can frustrate fans and take away from those unforgettable moments - and missing a goal isn’t just annoying, for many it ruins the match. With millions prioritising the live moments and many fans switching between streams, clips, social feeds and group chats, seamless, reliable connectivity has never been more important. Our leading fixed and mobile networks help keep fans connected to the action and to each other.”

As lead partner of the Home Nations Football Associations, EE has also launched its new Yes Boys campaign, shining a light on the growing impact of negative online influences on young boys, and the vital role football can play in helping them build confidence, identity and resilience both on and off the pitch. The campaign marks the latest step in EE’s ongoing commitment to helping young people navigate the online world with confidence and positivity.

This follows EE being recognised as the UK’s best network for more than 12 years. In that time EE has become the first operator in the UK to launch Wi-Fi 7 and 5G, providing the most reliable connectivity in more places than anyone else, helping ensure fans can stay close to the action at home or on the move.  

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Notes to editors:

Methodology

The survey of 2,000 UK consumers was conducted by Sapio Research with interviews carried out online May 2026.

Millions of people attending the UK’s biggest events and festivals this summer will be able to benefit from a significant boost to their mobile connectivity, with fewer dropped calls, less buffering and more reliable signal, after EE revealed its 5G+ network will be activated at more than 25 major events – including BST Hyde Park, Isle of Wight Festival, Reading and Leeds Festival, the Formula One® British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and many more. ¹

At the same time, people and businesses in more than 30 towns across the UK have been given a major signal boost as EE expands its 5G+ network ahead of the busy summer season.

These upgrades come as EE’s new nationwide advertising campaign, which launches today, highlights how customers can get the edge with 5G+, which is EE’s most powerful and reliable form of 5G connectivity.

5G+ has been designed to provide customers with stronger mobile internet connections, faster download and upload speeds, and improved video calling, especially in busy locations and at peak times.

By deploying 5G+ connectivity on its temporary mobile sites at festivals and events, EE is helping improve how attendees stay connected to friends and family, as well as how businesses engage with their customers – even in remote event locations or when the mobile network is at peak demand as thousands of people try to call, chat, and stream at the same time.

As part of a long-standing commitment to support culturally important events in all parts of the UK, EE will be making 5G+ available at major regional showcases, such as the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in Kiltarlity, the Devon County Show, and the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells where it has delivered permanent 5G+ connectivity for enhanced mobile performance all-year round.

Connecting communities and the country with 5G+

With customer usage of 5G+ increasing by more than 11% between March and April, EE is continuing to rapidly expand the coverage of its most reliable mobile technology to meet demand and ensure the benefits of 5G+ connectivity continue to be felt by communities and businesses in every corner of the UK.

5G+ on EE is now available to 75% of the UK population, with these latest upgrades meaning the technology covers more than 44 million people in England, over 2.1 million people in Wales and 3.3 million people in Scotland, as well as nearly one million people in Northern Ireland.

Many more places across the UK have recently benefitted from EE’s free connectivity boost ahead of the summer, including market and seaside towns and destinations popular with tourists:

“The summer has arrived and as our town centres and tourist hotspots get busier, staying connected with fast, secure and reliable mobile coverage has never been more important. 5G+ on EE has been designed to deliver exactly that, so whether you’re video-calling your friends from a packed festival crowd or just keeping in touch with your family while you’re shopping in the high street, switching to 5G+ means you can benefit from a more dependable connection,” said Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT – which connects EE, BT and Plusnet customers.

“We continue to build on our commitment to give customers access to the most reliable connectivity on the UK’s best mobile network. By investing in these latest 5G+ upgrades, we’re ensuring we’re on track to deliver our ambition to bring the UK’s highest quality 5G+ connectivity to 99% of the population by the end of March 2030,” he added.

EE expands UK-first rollout of ARC

As part of BT’s £40 billion investment in upgrading the UK’s network infrastructure this decade, EE customers are also benefitting from the roll out of ARC (Advanced RAN Coordination), a cutting-edge technology that enables mobile sites close to each other to dynamically share capacity in real time, instantly boosting network performance – particularly download speeds – by up to 20% without the need for additional masts.

After already making ARC live for customers in Edinburgh, Manchester and London, the technology is now improving the everyday mobile experience for EE customers in the busiest areas of Liverpool, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Leeds as part the UK’s first rollout of the technology.

All EE 5G customers are able to benefit from the improvements ARC is providing, however 5G+ customers will see the biggest boost to their network speeds and performance on their devices.

5G+ gives customers the edge when it matters most

With EE’s 5G+ network now being used by a growing number of people and businesses, the operator’s new advertising campaign launches nationwide today, highlighting how the reliability and capacity benefits of 5G+ help give customers the edge in everyday life; whether that is booking their next event tickets while at a festival stage or sliding in to bag the last e-bike on the commute home, with 5G+ customers can stay ahead when it matters most.

For more information on how to start benefitting from 5G+, head to www.ee.co.uk/why-ee/5g-on-ee

To check if EE’s 5G+ network is available in your local area, please visit: www.ee.co.uk/help/mobile-coverage-checker

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Notes to editors:

¹ Events where EE is deploying or has already deployed 5G+ this summer, include: All Points East, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Big Feastival, Boomtown, BST Hyde Park, Creamfields, Devon County Show, Download Festival, Eisteddfod, Formula One® British GP At Silverstone, Game Fair, Goodwood Festival Of Speed, Hillhead 2026, In It Together Festival, Isle Of Wight Festival, Kendall Calling, Latitude Festival, Lost Village, Leeds Festival, Parklife Festival, Reading Festival, Royal Ascot, The Royal Welsh Show, Ynot Festival, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Full list of smartphones, tablets, laptops and devices which are compatible with EE’s 5G+ network can be found here. Customers with 5G+ compatible devices, SIMs and plans will be able to access EE’s 5G+ network.

UK’s best network claim based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H2 2025. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

Despite being the fifth-largest Scottish island, with growing tourism and agricultural industries, some parts of Islay have never had any mobile signal from any operator.

Until now.

No more not-spots

As part of EE’s role in the Shared Rural Network, our team led the build and delivery of a new mobile mast designed to address a long-standing mobile not-spot on the west of the island. The new mast now serves the local community by providing fast, reliable mobile connectivity to residents, businesses and visitors across parts of Kilchoman, Machrie, Rockside, Aruadh, Ballinaby, Smaull, Braigo, Sanaigmore, Carnduncan, Grainel, Lyrabus, Gruinart and Craigens.

It also provides new 4G connectivity to 14 kilometres of roads, paths, and tracks – including parts of the B8018 and B8017 – as well as popular tourist attractions such as Loch Gorm, Machir Bay Beach, and the RSPB Loch Gruinart nature reserve.

The new site not only addresses one of Scotland’s most persistent mobile not spots but also:

• Ensures greater resilience and support for emergency services across Islay
• Helps close the divide between rural and urban areas by providing residents with access to critical online services like healthcare and banking
• Improves safety for those travelling or working in remote areas, including seafarers and fishermen passing by and working near the island
• Supports local businesses with improved connectivity

With all UK mobile operators now live on the same site, it also means the community benefit from greater choice over which network to rely on every day and improved resilience for emergency calls – without the need for additional infrastructure.

Better signal, brighter future

Research shows that mobile connectivity from a single EE mast can deliver between £740,000 and £1,054,000 for rural communities in Scotland over the course of its lifetime.

This positive economic impact will serve as an important lifeline for many local businesses on Islay, including the family-run Kilchoman Distillery – the first farm distillery built on the island in more than a century.

Islay Heads, General Manager at the distillery, is excited about how the new mobile connectivity will help the business thrive – opening up new ways to engage customers and generate revenue: “I think people on the mainland take reliable 4G connectivity for granted, but we certainly don’t. From a business perspective, our visitors are now able to post reviews and photos before they leave the site, something guests often forgot to do before, as they had to wait until they had a mobile signal. We can also now run live presentations and tastings from areas outside the distillery which allows more people to see how our traditional farm distilling process works.

 “It makes our ability to communicate with suppliers and team members much quicker as well. In modern business, these sorts of efficiencies are important to our overall success as a local enterprise and international brand.”

An Atlantic adventure

Bringing reliable mobile coverage to one of Scotland’s most remote islands is never simple. Behind this important milestone for the community is a story of persistence, collaboration, and the kind of engineering problem‑solving that only comes from working at the very edges of the UK’s geography.

Having been part of the team that has delivered significant mobile improvements for BT and EE customers in almost 2,000 rural communities across the UK in the last five years, it’s a journey that Nora Kileen, Deployment Delivery Manager at BT, knows well.

“Islay is one of Scotland’s most unique places, and it certainly presented us with some unique challenges when it came to making this new mast a reality. We submitted our planning application back in late 2023 and whether it was the raging storms and strong winds in winter, securing the necessary wayleaves for a power supply, or navigating the transport of an entire tower, crane and crew of engineers to Islay via ferry, there have been multiple obstacles to overcome.

“We have always been extremely conscious of respecting the wildlife and ancient ruins dotted across the island too, so spent time carrying out important ecological and archaeological surveys. We even paused the build last summer to allow red-billed choughs – a critically endangered bird species on Islay – the space they needed as part of their nesting season.

“But with the support of our partners at Openreach, Mova and WHP Telecoms, and even more importantly, our ongoing collaboration with the local community and organisations like NatureScot, we’ve been able to make history and finally deliver mobile coverage to this part of Islay for the very first time.”

Connecting customers, communities and the country

Switching on our first total not‑spot site as part of the Shared Rural Network is a significant step forward for residents, emergency services and businesses alike. But our work on Islay is more than a successful engineering project: it’s a symbol of our ongoing commitment to connect even the hardest‑to‑reach communities.

More than 90 percent of the entire UK landmass now has reliable mobile coverage from our terrestrial network. From the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, to Penmachno in the Welsh valleys and Scottish islands like Jura and Shetland, we’re proud to be delivering meaningful improvements for some of the UK’s most remote areas, ensuring that everyone - no matter where they live, work or travel - has access to reliable connectivity.

You can read more about the new connectivity on Islay here.

Photos courtesy of Mova.

The results of two landmark studies analysing mobile network performance across the UK have been revealed, with both finding that EE provides the most powerful and reliable mobile connectivity in the UK - benefitting millions of people and businesses in every part of the country.

In total, more than 5.7 billion individual testing samples were taken in a series of driving, walking and crowdsourced tests during studies from independent mobile analysts at RootMetrics and Umlaut Connect. This included bespoke testing in more than 40 major towns and cities across the UK, including 16 of the largest cities, as well as rural communities in each nation, to provide a clear and definitive picture of the performance of all the UK’s mobile network operators – EE, VodafoneThree and Virgin Media O2.

Claire Gillies, CEO at BT Group’s Consumer Division, said: “We’re proud to once again be recognised for our award-winning mobile network. These independent studies give people across the UK clear evidence of our network leadership and our commitment to delivering the best connectivity.

“In a digital world where fast, reliable coverage has never been more important, millions of consumers and businesses across the UK are benefitting from EE’s investment and focus to provide the fastest, most secure, and dependable connectivity. We continue to build on our commitment to giving customers access to the UK’s best mobile network.”

The first study by RootMetrics® is one of the longest running in the UK and takes six months to complete. It saw a team of independent analysts travel around the country examining mobile experiences in real-life situations, completing more than 600,000 tests in a variety of locations. ¹

The testing was focused on the UK’s largest 16 cities and rural communities in each of the four nations, as well as along 22,880 miles of roads and almost 800 indoor locations. The results found that:

Overall, EE provides the most reliable mobile connectivity in more places than anyone else, naming it the UK’s best network for a record 25^th consecutive time.

• EE has the best network connectivity in the UK’s largest cities, including Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, London, and Sheffield.

• EE delivers the UK’s best 5G experience with the highest average 5G download speeds at 236.7 Mbps, significantly higher than Vodafone (144.3 Mbps), Three (198.3 Mbps) and Virgin Media O2 (111 Mbps).

• EE provides the UK’s highest quality network for watching videos, further improving its performance in the last six months in places such as Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Southampton.

• EE customers also get the best gaming experience across all UK networks, with the lowest jitter rates and highest average throughput – making gaming on the move smoother and more responsive.

This follows a second, separate study published recently by Umlaut Connect, which used its own in-depth testing in 40 towns and cities, as well as more than 5.7 billion crowdsourced data samples from across the UK, to assess which network provided the best connectivity in a wide variety of categories. ²

Overall, the study found EE had the UK’s best performing mobile network for the 11^th year in a row. While not all UK networks performed better this year, EE broke the record for the highest scoring UK operator in history (920 out of a total 1,000 points), extending its significant margin of leadership over second place and putting it in a category above all other UK networks.

As well as the overall award, EE was also found to have:

• The UK’s most reliable network for both voice and mobile data services

• The highest quality mobile data in all major cities tested, including Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester, as well as aggregately in smaller cities and towns nationwide such as Durham, Merthyr Tydfil, Newbury, and Winchester

• The best network in London with the highest scores in all categories, including voice, mobile data, and reliability

• The best network performance on the UK’s road and railway routes, as well as the UK’s highest average 5G data speeds across all the cities and rail routes tested

These landmark results come after a year of significant developments with EE’s mobile network, in which its 5G network has been extended to be the largest in the UK according to Ofcom – covering over 90% of the population and more than half of the UK’s entire landmass.

As part of EE’s investment in enhancing 5G connectivity for its customers, its 5G+ network – the most advanced and powerful form of 5G – is now available to more than 47 million people; with plans to strengthen the network further and deliver the UK’s highest quality 5G+ connectivity to 99% of the population by Spring 2030. ³

2025 also saw EE’s deployment of outdoor small cells surpass 1,500 in towns and cities across the UK, increasing 4G and 5G capacity in densely populated urban areas such as airports, train stations, and shopping centres – enabling people to stay connected in the busiest places at peak times. Significant improvements in connectivity were also delivered at major event venues, with EE becoming the first operator to launch 5G+ at Wembley Stadium, as well as building new, permanent connectivity at Silverstone and Cheltenham Racecourse.

Aside from its network enhancements, EE also broke new ground by launching ‘Safer SIMs’ - becoming the first major UK network to launch under 18’s smartphone plans designed to support young people at different stages of their digital development. These plans come with built‑in protections, including network‑level content controls, scam call blocking, spend caps and Stay Connected Data.

Business customers are also benefitting from the strength and reliability of EE’s mobile network, with the operations of major organisations like DEFRA and easyJet now being enhanced by smart, seamless connectivity – including the use of eSIM technology.

To see how all UK networks compared in both studies, read the full reports here:

RootMetrics

Umlaut Connect

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Notes to editors:

¹ All rankings based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H2 2025. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

Here is a snapshot of the network awards EE has won following the independent testing conducted by RootMetrics® throughout the UK in 2025:

• The UK’s #1/Best Network (across the UK, the four nations, and all 16 specific major metropolitan markets)

• The UK’s #1/Best Network 12.5 years and counting

• The UK’s #1/Best Network twenty-five times in a row

• The UK’s Fastest Network

• The UK’s Most Reliable Network

• The UK’s Best Network for Video

• The UK’s Best Network for Gaming

• The UK’s Most Reliable Network for Mobile Gaming

• The UK’s Best Network for Data Performance

• The UK’s Best 5G Experience

• The UK’s Best Network for Calls

² The 2026 Umlaut Connect Mobile Network Test in the UK consists of drive tests and walk tests conducted from October 27th to November 8th, 2025. Four drive test cars together covered approx. 10,170 kilometres, visiting 16 cities and 24 smaller towns. Additionally, two walk test teams visited ten cities and travelled on trains between them as well as to more remote destinations. The test areas account for 16.7 million people. In addition, the results of extensive crowdsourcing analyses, considering 24 weeks from end of May (calendar week 22) to early November 2025 (CW 45) are included in the score.

³ EE has stated its ambition to deliver 5G+ connectivity to 99% of the UK population by the end of March 2030: https://newsroom.bt.com/scaling-uk-mobile-coverage-for-all/

Residents and businesses in the scenic Welsh village of Penmachno are celebrating the start of a new, connected era after EE became the first UK operator to deliver reliable mobile connectivity to the community.

Situated in the Machno Valley, a few miles south of Betws-y-Coed, the village is steeped in centuries of rich history with a strong farming community and 30 kilometres of renowned mountain bike trails. However, its 600 residents were, until recently, living in part of the ‘forgotten’ four percent of the UK that is without reliable mobile signal from any operator. ¹

Living in one of the UK’s last remaining mobile not-spots left the community isolated for many years, with residents having to travel to nearby villages to make phone calls, struggling with organising home deliveries of food and medication, and left stuck with restricted access to secure online banking and other digital services.

That has all changed now.  EE, with the support of Bro Machno Community Council, has discreetly built a new mobile mast at the edge of a forest on the slopes of the Machno Valley, providing fast and reliable 4G connectivity to the village, as well as critical signal for the emergency services as part of the Home Office’s Emergency Services Network. ²

“We’ve always been 100 percent behind the mast and that has helped our journey to where we are today, with a mast in the forest and signal for everybody,” said Daniel Tomos, Clerk of Bro Machno Community Council. 

Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group, added: “As part of our work to connect the unconnected, we’re going further and faster than anyone else to ensure every rural community in the UK has the reliable connectivity they need. There is more to do to completely eradicate the UK’s digital divide but our collaboration with the local residents of Penmachno is a shining example of what can be achieved when mobile operators and communities work together to tackle the issue head on.”

Connected and protected

Being in the heart of Eryri National Park means Penmachno attracts a lot of tourists, including hikers and mountain bikers. Residents David and Emma Dallimore, who regularly ride Penmachno’s mountain bike trails, believe the additional safety offered by reliable mobile signal will encourage more people to visit the area: “Safety was quite a concern for people coming into the area because there was no mobile reception. If people were injured, particularly if they were out riding on their own, there was no way of getting hold of anyone to help.  The fact it is now safer is a very good thing for all of us.”

They are also excited about how the new mobile connectivity will enable them to use more sustainable technology, including a smart meter and EV charging point: “There are people that we know in the village that have got mobile reception for the very first time and are chuffed to bits. It’s important for mobile operators to come to places like this and offer what the rest of the country has, as it enables us to contribute and live and work in the way people in more urban areas can.”

Full bars under the stars

Paul Huckstep is co-owner of Benar Cottages, a local holiday-let business offering luxurious stays in 16^th century cottages overlooking the surrounding valley. The new mobile connectivity is having a positive impact on his customers, many of whom come to explore Penmachno’s forest and river walks, as well as its natural scenery.

“Now that we’ve got the mobile mast, it will make running our business easier. In the past we have had guests leave us negative reviews because of the lack of mobile phone service, but now all that has gone away. Guests can arrive, open their phones when they get here, find out where they are staying on-site, and keep in contact with everyone they need to,” he said.

Future-fit connectivity for future generations

The new mast in Penmachno is part of EE’s ongoing work to help close the UK’s digital divide so rural communities can thrive in the modern age and attract future generations to live and work in countryside communities.

Owen Davis is a father of four and has lived in Penmachno for more than 25 years. He said: “Having a mobile network here in the village is making an immediate difference to everyone who lives here, helping them feel that they have the same opportunities as other places. When I think of my family and particularly my younger children, it’s reassuring to be able to track them using tools like Find my iPhone and just know where they are, as we don’t want to restrict them when we live in such a lovely area.”

Owen is also a co-ordinator for Penmachno’s new Community Hub – the village’s old memorial hall which has been renovated into a vibrant and modern community space running events, fitness classes, and skills sessions for all ages.  

He believes the new connectivity will also help support the local economy while bringing the tight-knit community even closer together: “One of the opportunities we’re exploring with the Community Hub is starting a monthly local producer’s market, for people to sell their eggs and fresh vegetables. The opportunity to be able to use the mobile signal to take online card payments will be a benefit to us.”

Research from analysts at Farrpoint examining the impact of mobile connectivity in Trawsfynydd, which is a 30-minute drive from Penmachno, shows that 4G signal from a single EE mast can deliver up to £383,000 in economic value to rural Welsh communities over its lifetime.

EE’s investment has seen it expand and strengthen its network in more than 1,800 rural locations across the UK in the last five years, including some of the most remote and hard-to-reach communities – taking its mobile coverage in Wales to record levels, with reliable signal now covering more than 90% of the country’s landmass.

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Notes to editors:

¹ According to Ofcom’s Connected Nation’s Report 2025, while 96% of the UK’s landmass has 4G connectivity from at least one network operator, the remaining 4% has no mobile coverage from any mobile operator.

² The Home Office’s Emergency Services Network (ESN) is providing mobile coverage for the emergency services in some of the most rural and remote parts of Great Britain. ESN will enable fast, safe and secure voice, video and data across the 4G network, giving first responders immediate access to life-saving data, images and information in live situations and emergencies on the frontline.

There will be a total of 20,840 new and upgraded sites to facilitate the coverage needed for ESN across Great Britain. This will include the current EE network of 19,795 existing sites which have been updated, as well as the construction of 1,045 new 4G masts (figures correct as of January 2026). Of the 1,045 new masts being built, 753 will be built by EE to support the existing network. The Home Office is also building 292 additional masts, known as the Extended Area Service (EAS). EAS is a critical part of ESN and will supplement EE’s ESN coverage, ensuring maximum emergency service coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

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O FAN-GWAN I BOETHFAN: EE YW'R CYNTAF YN Y DU I DDARPARU SIGNAL I BOBL PENMACHNO

• Nid yw trigolion a busnesau ym Mhenmachno, pentref gwledig Cymreig yng nghymoedd Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, wedi'u hynysu o'r byd y tu allan mwyach ar ôl i EE ddod yn weithredwr cyntaf y DU i ddarparu gwasanaeth ffôn symudol i'r gymuned.
• Tan yn ddiweddar, roedd y 600 o drigolion ym Mhenmachno yn byw yn y pedwar y cant ‘anghofiedig’ o’r DU nad oedd ganddynt signal ffôn symudol dibynadwy gan unrhyw weithredwr.
• Mae cysylltedd EE bellach yn cael ei ddefnyddio i wella diogelwch i drigolion a thwristiaid, darparu mynediad at wasanaethau ar-lein hanfodol, a hybu'r economi leol.

Mae trigolion a busnesau ym mhentref hardd Penmachno yng Nghymru yn dathlu dechrau oes newydd, gysylltiedig ar ôl i EE ddod y gweithredwr cyntaf yn y DU i ddarparu cysylltedd ffôn symudol dibynadwy i'r gymuned.

Wedi'i leoli yn Nyffryn Machno, ychydig filltiroedd i'r de o Fetws-y-coed, mae'r pentref wedi'i drwytho mewn canrifoedd o hanes cyfoethog gyda chymuned ffermio gref a 30 cilomedr o lwybrau beicio mynydd enwog. Fodd bynnag, roedd ei 600 o drigolion, tan yn ddiweddar, yn byw mewn rhan o'r pedwar y cant 'anghofiedig' o'r DU sydd heb signal ffôn symudol dibynadwy gan unrhyw weithredwr. ¹

Gadawyd y gymuned ynysig am flynyddoedd lawer, gan fyw yn un o fannau digyswllt olaf y DU, gyda thrigolion yn gorfod teithio i bentrefi cyfagos i wneud galwadau ffôn symudol, yn cael trafferth trefnu danfoniadau bwyd a meddyginiaeth adref, ac yn cael eu gadael yn sownd gyda mynediad cyfyngedig i fancio ar-lein diogel a gwasanaethau digidol eraill.

Mae hynny i gyd wedi newid nawr. Mae EE, gyda chefnogaeth Cyngor Cymuned Bro Machno, wedi adeiladu mast ffôn symudol newydd disylw ar ymyl coedwig ar lethrau Dyffryn Machno, gan ddarparu cysylltedd 4G cyflym a dibynadwy i'r pentref, yn ogystal â signal hanfodol ar gyfer y gwasanaethau brys fel rhan o Rwydwaith Gwasanaethau Brys (ESN) y Swyddfa Gartref. ²

“Rydyn ni wastad wedi cefnogi'r mast cant y cant ac mae hynny wedi helpu ein taith i ble rydyn ni heddiw, gyda mast yn y goedwig a signal i bawb,” meddai Daniel Tomos, Clerc Cyngor Cymuned Bro Machno.

Ychwanegodd Greg McCall, Prif Swyddog Diogelwch a Rhwydweithiau yn BT Group: “Fel rhan o’n gwaith i gysylltu’r rhai sydd heb gysylltiad, rydym yn mynd ymhellach ac yn gyflymach nag unrhyw un arall i sicrhau bod gan bob cymuned wledig yn y DU y cysylltedd dibynadwy sydd ei angen arnynt. Mae mwy i’w wneud i ddileu’r gagendor digidol yn y DU yn llwyr ond mae ein cydweithrediad â thrigolion lleol Penmachno yn enghraifft ddisglair o’r hyn y gellir ei gyflawni pan fydd gweithredwyr symudol a chymunedau’n cydweithio i fynd i’r afael â’r mater yn uniongyrchol.”

Cysylltiedig ac yn diogel

Mae bod yng nghanol Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri yn golygu bod Penmachno yn denu llawer o dwristiaid, gan gynnwys cerddwyr a beicwyr mynydd. Mae'r trigolion David ac Emma Dallimore, sy'n reidio llwybrau beicio mynydd Penmachno yn rheolaidd, yn credu y bydd y diogelwch ychwanegol a ddarperir gan signal ffôn symudol dibynadwy yn annog mwy o bobl i ymweld â'r ardal: “Roedd diogelwch yn bryder mawr i bobl a oedd yn dod i'r ardal oherwydd nad oedd signal ffôn symudol. Os oedd pobl wedi'u hanafu, yn enwedig os oeddent allan yn reidio ar eu pen eu hunain, nid oedd unrhyw ffordd o gael gafael ar unrhyw un i helpu. Mae'r ffaith ei fod bellach yn fwy diogel yn beth da iawn i bawb.”

Maen nhw hefyd yn gyffrous am sut y bydd y cysylltedd newydd yn eu galluogi i ddefnyddio technoleg fwy cynaliadwy, gan gynnwys mesurydd clyfar a phwynt gwefru cerbydau trydan: "Mae yna bobl rydyn ni'n eu hadnabod yn y pentref sydd wedi cael signal ffôn am y tro cyntaf erioed ac maen nhw wrth eu bodd. Mae'n bwysig i weithredwyr symudol ddod i leoedd fel hyn a chynnig yr hyn sydd gan weddill y wlad, gan ei fod yn ein galluogi i gyfrannu a byw a gweithio yn y ffordd y gall pobl mewn ardaloedd mwy trefol."

Cysylltiad â'r we o dan y sêr

Mae Paul Huckstep yn gyd-berchennog Bythynnod Benar, busnes llety gwyliau lleol sy'n cynnig llety moethus mewn bythynnod o'r 16eg ganrif sy'n edrych dros y dyffryn cyfagos. Mae'r signal ffôn symudol newydd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar ei gwsmeriaid, y mae llawer ohonynt yn dod i archwilio llwybrau cerdded coedwig a glan yr afon Penmachno, yn ogystal â'i golygfeydd naturiol.

“Nawr bod gennym ni’r mast ffôn symudol, bydd yn gwneud rhedeg ein busnes yn haws. Yn y gorffennol, rydym wedi cael gwesteion yn gadael adolygiadau negyddol oherwydd diffyg gwasanaeth ffôn symudol, ond nawr mae hynny i gyd wedi diflannu. Gall gwesteion gyrraedd, agor eu ffonau pan fyddant yn cyrraedd yma, darganfod ble maen nhw’n aros ar y safle, a chadw mewn cysylltiad â phawb,” meddai.

Cysylltedd y dyfodol, i genedlaethau’r dyfodol

Mae'r mast newydd ym Mhenmachno yn rhan o waith parhaus EE i helpu i gau'r bwlch digidol yn y DU fel y gall cymunedau gwledig ffynnu yn yr oes fodern a denu cenedlaethau'r dyfodol i fyw a gweithio mewn cymunedau cefn gwlad.

Mae Owen Davis yn dad i bedwar o blant ac mae wedi byw ym Mhenmachno ers dros 25 mlynedd. Dywedodd: “Mae cael rhwydwaith symudol yma yn y pentref yn gwneud gwahaniaeth uniongyrchol i bawb sy’n byw yma, gan eu helpu i deimlo bod ganddyn nhw’r un cyfleoedd â lleoedd eraill. Pan fyddaf yn meddwl am fy nheulu ac yn enwedig fy mhlant iau, mae’n galonogol gallu dod o hyd iddyn nhw gan ddefnyddio offer fel Find my iPhone a gwybod ble maen nhw, gan nad ydym am eu cyfyngu pan rydyn ni’n byw mewn ardal mor hyfryd.”

Mae Owen hefyd yn gydlynydd ar gyfer Hwb Cymunedol newydd Penmachno – hen neuadd goffa’r pentref sydd wedi’i hadnewyddu’n ofod cymunedol bywiog a modern sy’n cynnal digwyddiadau, dosbarthiadau ffitrwydd a sesiynau sgiliau i bob oed.

Mae'n credu y bydd y cysylltedd newydd hefyd yn helpu i gefnogi'r economi leol wrth ddod â'r gymuned glos hyd yn oed yn agosach at ei gilydd: “Un o'r cyfleoedd rydyn ni'n eu harchwilio gyda'r Hwb Cymunedol yw cychwyn marchnad gynhyrchwyr lleol misol, i bobl werthu eu hwyau a'u llysiau ffres. Bydd y cyfle i allu defnyddio signal ffôn symudol i gymryd taliadau cerdyn ar-lein yn fanteisiol i ni.”

Mae ymchwil gan ddadansoddwyr yn Farrpoint sy'n archwilio effaith cysylltedd symudol yn Nhrawsfynydd, sydd 30 munud o daith mewn car o Benmachno, yn dangos y gall signal 4G o un mast EE ddarparu hyd at £383,000 mewn gwerth economaidd i gymunedau gwledig Cymru dros ei oes.

Mae buddsoddiad EE wedi ei weld yn ehangu ac yn cryfhau ei rwydwaith mewn mwy na 1,800 o leoliadau gwledig ledled y DU yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, gan gynnwys rhai o'r cymunedau mwyaf anghysbell ac anodd eu cyrraedd – gan fynd â'i orchudd symudol yng Nghymru i lefelau record, gyda signal dibynadwy bellach yn cwmpasu mwy na 90% o dirfas y wlad.

- DIWEDD-

A new independent study carried out by connectivity consultancy FarrPoint has analysed the socio-economic impact of four EE 4G mobile sites on the rural communities they serve across the UK. 

The report finds:

• A range of social and economic benefits, worth between £249,000 and £6.9 million to different types of rural communities over 15 years.
• Significant additional social wellbeing and safety benefits brought about by mobile connectivity.
• Reliable mobile signal is helping transform local industries, with small businesses, freelancers and tourist populations all deriving economic benefits from 4G coverage.
• Although all masts provide a benefit, in two of the locations analysed, the cost to the operator of delivering and maintaining the 4G mobile network is more than the economic uplift the community realise from the coverage.

Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group commented: “Every rural community can benefit from modern mobile connectivity. This report provides evidence of how it is helping local businesses grow, supporting rural employment opportunities, and enabling more people to experience the benefits of the digital economy. That’s why we’re proud to have delivered on the coverage targets we committed to, helping to close the digital divide and ensure that the benefits of 4G connectivity are more widely felt in every corner of the UK.”

Game-changing coverage for the Scottish Highlands

For people living, working or travelling in and near Mallaig in Scotland, EE 4G is delivering social and economic benefits worth between £742,000 and £1,054,000.

Iain, a commercial fisherman and lifelong resident of the Isle of Skye – which is covered by the mobile mast in Mallaig – says the impact EE’s high-speed 4G connectivity has had on him and his business is transformative. His hour-long journeys spent travelling out to sea are now spent catching up on emails, liaising with shellfish buyers across Europe and accessing mobile banking – all on his mobile phone.  He says: “Now we've got internet coverage at sea with EE, I can do all my emails and banking while the boat is on autopilot on our way out in the morning or on our way home at night. We can also access weather forecasts and contact the emergency services. It's a life-changing thing for our work. People in the city would take it for granted but what I can now do while working at sea is a game-changer.”

A bigger slice of the pie for Melton Mowbray

The benefits to the rural communities covered by EE’s site to the north of Melton Mowbray in England are worth between £5,024,000 and £6,939,000.

Libby, a self-employed equestrian coach, teaches people of all ages and abilities to ride horses at venues within the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire area (including Melton Mowbray and surrounding villages), while also managing a busy livery stable. She says: “In all my roles my mobile phone is so important, but especially when needing to get signal in the middle of a field when we're out cross-country schooling should we need first aid or an ambulance. Rural areas are usually a little bit behind those in the city in terms of technology, but we’ve got to keep up with the times and stay modern.”

Supporting film production in Northern Ireland

In the coastal hamlet of Dunseverick in Northern Ireland, EE’s 4G generates benefits worth between £353,000 and £518,000 to the local population.

With major productions like Game of Thrones, Northern Ireland has seen a huge growth in film and television production in recent years. Alana, a freelance set decorator working in the fast-moving industry, says mobile coverage is helping to change a whole range of processes for the better and shine a light on local talent.

“A film production is never set in stone. Scripts, locations and timings are always evolving and it’s vital that I can respond in real-time to meet changing and challenging deadlines. Being able to hold phone calls – especially in remote areas – allows me to work when travelling between locations, freeing up time at the other end. Dailies (daily raw footage) can be uploaded to cloud platforms, allowing directors and producers, who might not be on location, to review and provide feedback promptly. This real-time collaboration is essential for maintaining the pace and quality of production.

“Filmmakers can use social media and dedicated apps to reach out to local communities, discovering actors and crew members who might not have access to traditional casting networks. This not only enriches the film’s authenticity but also provides valuable opportunities for rural talents to break into the industry.”

Creating a connected future for Wales

The additional 4G coverage added to the EE mast near Trawsfynydd in Eryri National Park in Wales will deliver between £249,000 to £383,000 in benefits to the local community.

Morien, a sixth-generation farmer, has been using EE’s increased 4G coverage to manage his 2,500-acre farmland in this remote part of Wales through his smartphone; mapping fields, staying in touch with customers and staff, and using digital tools to track the health of his pedigree Welsh Black cattle. He says: “The reception is fantastic. I can now use apps to record if a cow hasn't been well if she's had certain injections and we can register where they've been grazing. If I'm out in the middle of the mountain and I've got a cow and she's had a calf, I simply put a tag in it and I can go online where I am and register it straight away.”

Significant community benefits but benefit for mobile networks vary

In the last five years, EE has invested hundreds of millions of pounds to help improve coverage in rural communities; expanding its 4G network by a further 10,000 square kilometres and extending fast and reliable mobile connectivity to more than 1,700 additional rural locations.

This included building more than 300 new 4G masts, strategically placed to support the growing needs of countryside communities while having minimal impact on the natural environment. Doing so not only helped transform the everyday lives of local people in these rural locations, but also enabled EE to meet its legally binding coverage commitments under the Shared Rural Network (SRN) and deliver 4G coverage to more than 50 isolated communities as part of the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) project.

FarrPoint’s analysis shows there is a significant positive economic impact in every rural community that received 4G coverage from EE. At two of the sites (Mallaig and Melton Mowbray), the scale of the social and economic benefits to the local community considerably outweighs the cost of the network investment (c. £553,000 per rural mast on average).

However, the same is not true of the masts in Dunseverick and Trawsfynydd where, even though the communities still reap substantial benefits, the cost for EE to build and maintain its 4G service is higher. This is largely because the lower population density of these locations – or presence of other networks – means less people use the individual masts.

4G in the UK

Today, 4G is the mobile technology relied upon by the majority of the population. Due to historic investment throughout the country, EE’s 4G network is the largest in the UK, available on more than 19,500 mobile masts covering more than 88% of the UK’s entire landmass.

While masts like the specific ones in Wales and Northern Ireland that serve smaller rural communities have higher overall costs, they are - in relative terms - a small proportion of EE’s entire mobile network which does generate an economic return, as well as significant benefits for the people and places it connects.

That’s why, despite the technical, geographic and financial challenges to deliver fast and reliable 4G connectivity to remote areas, EE continues to deliver more than any other UK operator to connect rural communities.

FarrPoint’s latest study, Rural 4G connectivity: Analysing the community benefits of mobile investment, is available to read or download in full here.

- ENDS -