Three UK is set to fall short of its rural coverage target, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
MNOs were given until July to meet the target of 88 per cent coverage of the UK's landmass set by the government's £1 billion Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme.
Three UK could now be at risk of a fine if it fails to complete the first phase of the project, which is focused on "partial not spot" areas where at least one operator provides coverage but not all of them. Ofcom has the power to fine companies up to 10pc of their global turnover.
Vodafone has said it has hit the deadline. Virgin Media O2 has said that it has completed its share of the first phase of the SRN. Three UK has said that it was "working hard" to meet the targets.
This follows BT striking a deal with Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone to provide access to some of its mobile masts in remote locations.
EE, which is owned by BT and is contributing to the initial phase of the SRN separately, reached its initial target earlier this year.
The Telegraph report said it's understood that Three UK will meet with Ofcom in the coming weeks.
In April, the government rejected a request from MNOs to extend the deadline for tackling so-called ‘not-spots’ in rural areas.
Analysis by consultancy FarrPoint, commissioned by EE, has revealed that 4G connectivity had provided economic benefits of up to £6.9 million over 15 years for rural communities.
The second phase of the SRN project, which will be funded by the government, will target total not spot areas, where no operators currently provide 4G services.
Ministers have set out a target of covering 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass by the end of next year and the entire country by early 2027.
A spokesman for Three UK said: "The Shared Rural Network will deliver better connectivity and greater choice for residents and businesses across the UK. We are working hard to meet the interim deadline and are on track to deliver the overall January 2027 target for 4G geographic coverage under the SRN programme."
A BT spokesman said: "We've been in discussions with a number of other mobile networks in recent months to share sites to support their own coverage efforts and we'll continue to collaborate with them on the next phase of the project."
A spokesman for Ofcom said: "We’re responsible for assessing mobile network operators' compliance with their coverage obligations, and we expect to receive data about their progress soon.
"Over the summer we will carry out our own analysis, including tests where we’ll drive to certain locations to check that coverage has been delivered. An update on our findings and next steps will then be published in due course."
Vodafone has rolled out 4G to more than 400 rural locations, providing reliable coverage to more than 17,000 square kilometres of the UK. The company has confirmed reaching its partial not spot coverage target of the SRN programme.
Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK, said, "At Vodafone, we’ve always been vocal in our belief that a rural postcode should not be a barrier to connectivity. And, as The Nation's Network, our mission is to make sure no part of the UK is left behind.
"This is why we continue to invest millions in our rural network, so that customers living, working and visiting rural locations will benefit from a strong voice signal and fast data speeds. The SRN is a world-first partnership between Government and mobile operators, and this is a major milestone for Vodafone, achieved through teamwork, passion, creative delivery and determination, and I'm honoured to lead this incredible team."
Virgin Media O2 has rolled out 4G coverage to its 227th site, Glencoe Mountain Resort. The mountainous site is over a kilometre above sea level, making it the highest mobile mast in the UK.
Virgin Media O2 used helicopters to deliver the new 4G mast to the top of the mountain, standing 1,108 metres above sea level. The new mast will provide reliable mobile coverage to Glencoe Mountain Resort, Scotland's oldest ski centre, improving safety and convenience for its visitors.
The operator faced significant challenges building the remote site, with extreme weather conditions making delivery difficult. On top of this, Glencoe is a National Nature Reserve and home to endangered species, including golden eagles and ptarmigans. Virgin Media O2 worked closely with build partner, WHP Telecoms, to overcome these challenges and deliver the site in five weeks.
While the 227 sites are controlled by Virgin Media O2, customers of Three and Vodafone are also benefitting from the operator’s rollout of shared sites. Considering upgrades delivered by all operators, Virgin Media O2's customers can benefit from reliable 4G services in more than 300 former coverage black spots.
Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2, said, "We are absolutely committed to bringing reliable mobile connectivity to more rural communities and have now completed the first phase of our SRN rollout. Our 227th site at Glencoe is now the highest mast in the UK and one of the most impressive to date, standing over a kilometre above sea level and providing connectivity to the nearby ski resort. This work is vital in tackling the urban-rural digital divide that exists in the UK."