3UK to double mobile broadband masts in Scotland

A number of mobile broadband customers living north of the border could be encouraged by the news that one provider is set to double its number of masts in the country.

Provider 3UK has confirmed that it is to invest £38 million in a bid to improve its service and said it is to take its total number of masts in Scotland to 1,400 by the end of the month.

Kevin Russell, chief executive of 3UK, said the firm is increasing its spending in the country by 37 per cent per head in a bid to meet the demand for dongle services.

"The take-up of internet services in Scotland lags the UK, with some calculations that 60 per cent of people in Scotland don't access the internet," he said.

"That has previously been down to not enough towers with equipment to broadcast strong enough signals."

News of the plans could prove to tempt a number of mobile broadband users in Scotland to compare a number of deals currently available on the market to ensure they are on a tariff that meets both their financial and internet requirement needs.

A report by industry analyst Ovum was also highlighted by 3UK, which revealed that the number of people using mobile broadband is set to far outstrip those using fixed services in the coming years.

According to the study, three billion people will be accessing the internet through mobile broadband connection by 2015, whereas just 780 million will still be using fixed services.

Posted by Brian Palmer