Telecom infrastructure providers need to achieve network rollouts safely and cost-effectively. The UK government's Shared Rural Network initiative set ambitious targets, which have just been hit: 95% 4G coverage across the UK by December 2025. Additionally, up to £100 million in public investment aims to position Britain as the global frontrunner in next-generation telecoms and 6G technology.
These ambitious targets are the next steps toward a more connected Britain. A high demand for gigabit connectivity means speed is a crucial factor, but with Britain currently ranking lowest of all G7 nations in network reliability, telecom providers need to balance speed with precision.
A growing demand for better connectivity
In a digital world, reliable connectivity isn’t just a convenience, but a necessity. Poor digital connectivity affects rural communities’ social and economic well-being, limiting access to essential services like educational opportunities, business innovation, even impacting access to healthcare.
Some urban deprived communities face 5G connectivity issues in less than 3% of areas, while rural deprived regions have communities trapped in ‘5G not-spots.’ This creates a connectivity divide that threatens to leave entire regions behind.
The telecoms sector therefore has a critical responsibility to bridge the digital divide, particularly working to meet coverage targets through network expansion. As a core part of telecoms providers' infrastructure strategy, plus new targets and policy ambitions to usher in a new era of connectivity, it's essential that telecoms providers can work as efficiently and accurately as possible.
How location data can help to navigate coverage challenges
Location data is helping telecoms organisations strengthen network planning, identify coverage gaps, and optimise infrastructure deployment, working towards the end goal of seamless connectivity across all of Britain.
Address data is key, especially when enhancing broadband connectivity in rural communities by enabling service providers to accurately identify properties needing improved network access. Through Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs), every addressable location across Great Britain has a distinct, numeric identifier. This eliminates ambiguity around addressable buildings or assets, while also supporting data integration.
The UPRN can link together disparate datasets such as broadband performance metrics or cellular access, to identify properties requiring better connectivity and additional telco assets.
Additional data beyond UPRNs, specifically that from Ordnance Survey’s National Geographic Database (NGD), can support the development of digital twins and evaluate locations for potential network expansion opportunities. The NGD's Building Theme, for instance, delivers property-specific details including floor count, build date, and structural height. This data can support the assessment of potential connections, determining site suitability for infrastructure placement like rooftop installations, and numerous other applications.
OS data can also be helpful when planning a rollout of telecoms assets in rural areas, to help increase connectivity. For areas with complex topography and obstacles to infrastructure development, accurate location can help identify prime locations for asset rollout
A more connected Britain
By leveraging accurate location data, telco organisations can strategically plan their infrastructure investments, eliminate coverage blind spots, avoid delays in asset deployment, and ensure no community is left behind in Britain's digital transformation.
This foundation of accurate geographic information ultimately enables providers to build the robust, inclusive networks essential for creating a truly connected Britain.
