S4GI programme recognised with two prestigious awards

Wednesday, 11 December 2024

The Scottish Government’s 4G Infill (S4GI) programme, which has successfully delivered 55 mobile masts to rural communities across Scotland for the first time, was celebrated last night with wins at two major awards ceremonies. 

At the UK Civil Service Awards, the programme received the Collaboration Award, acknowledging the strong teamwork and coordination driving its success. Additionally, it won the Commercial Partnerships Award at the Scottish Public Service Awards, recognising the innovative collaboration between public and private sector organisations. 

S4GI is a £28.75 million initiative developed to improve mobile connectivity in areas where the industry would not invest due to the challenging conditions. The programme is the result of a close partnership between the Scottish Government, Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), WHP Telecoms and Cellnex UK – and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund for sites in the Highlands and Islands region. 

Collaboration with mobile industry was also key to ensure the programme’s success, with all four UK mobile network operators (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone) involved and utilising S4GI masts.  

S4GI also collaborated with the Home Office to jointly deliver some masts for their Emergency Services Network, which achieved efficiencies across both programmes. 

Finally, comprehensive engagement and true dialogue with a myriad of stakeholders, including Local Authorities’ planning departments, local communities and landowners, played a vital role in making this complex programme a success.  

These awards highlight the programme’s significant impact, both in terms of its technical achievements and its contribution to bridging the digital divide in rural Scotland. The recognition underscores the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing complex infrastructure challenges. 

With this national recognition, the S4GI programme stands as a leading example of how partnerships can deliver transformative outcomes for rural communities, and so it has become a blueprint for the ongoing UK Government's Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme. 

Find out more about the S4GI programme and follow the team on their Digital Connectivity Twitter account.