Milton and neighbouring communities in Kildary had become mobile not-spots, with little to no mobile coverage. The surrounding areas and a 15-mile stretch of the nearby A9, a critical transport corridor, also struggled with poor signal. As a result, local residents, businesses and travellers faced serious communication barriers that restricted access to essential digital services and limited economic opportunities.
WIG collaborated closely with local planners, O2 and Scottish Water to deliver a new 50-metre tower at Milton, the first mobile tower o this scale, to be deployed in the UK for more than a decade. The tower was designed and built on a Scottish Water facility following extensive consultation with the community, ensuring that local voices were considered throughout the process.
In contrast to traditional telecoms masts, this new infrastructure has been built at a scale that dramatically increases coverage, therefore delivering up to three times the signal range. As a result, the tower now provides reliable 4G coverage across Milton, Kildary and 15 additional rural communities, while also extending connectivity for 10 extra miles of the A9.
The tower has also been future-proofed, offering capacity for all mobile network operators and other wireless networks to connect. This ensures that the infrastructure will continue to deliver long-term value and support improved digital services in the region.
For the first time, Milton, Kildary and 15 other villages enjoy consistent, high-quality mobile connectivity. This expanded coverage gives residents and businesses better access to essential communication and digital services, supporting local enterprise and helping reduce the isolation often felt in rural areas.
Drivers and passengers on the A9 can now stay connected, improving safety in emergencies and making everyday travel more convenient and reliable
The project was delivered through a partnership between WIG, O2, Scottish Water and local planners. This collaboration showcases what can be achieved when industry expertise and public-sector support align, setting a benchmark for how rural connectivity challenges can be successfully tackled.
The infrastructure’s scale and design means it can adapt to evolving connectivity demands, ensuring the region remains connected as technology advances and community needs grow.
Large parts of the Shetland Islands, including the community of Walls, have long struggled with unreliable mobile signal. Remote geography, rugged terrain and harsh weather made infrastructure deployment difficult, leaving residents and businesses with limited access to mobile services. This lack of connectivity affected daily communication, online access and local livelihoods, while poor network reliability hindered business activity and tourism, widening the digital divide between rural and urban areas.
In partnership with anchor tenant Virgin Media O2 and SRN partners Vodafone and Three UK, WIG delivered a new shared tower site in Shetland designed for high performance and future readiness. The 25-metre lattice tower was engineered to withstand the region’s high wind speeds and harsh weather conditions, ensuring long-term resilience.
Built on a shared infrastructure model, the site supports multiple mobile network operators (MNOs) from day one and is fully prepared for future 5G upgrades. To maximise efficiency and minimise environmental impact, the tower was strategically located adjacent to a Scottish Water facility, allowing the use of existing access tracks and integration with the surrounding infrastructure.
The build was successfully delivered through WIG’s specialist partners, Beacon Comms as principal contractor and local expert Tulloch Developments, whose extensive experience in Shetland proved invaluable to the project’s success.
Walls and neighbouring communities now benefit from strong and consistent mobile coverage, delivered by multiple mobile operators. This enhanced connectivity enables residents, businesses and visitors to stay connected, access online services and communicate reliably.
The site was designed to host multiple mobile network operators from day one, maximising efficiency and minimising environmental impact. This shared approach reduces the need for duplicate infrastructure, lowers operational costs and supports a more sustainable model for delivering mobile services in rural areas.
Every element of the build, from its engineering to its material selection, was designed with durability and reliability in mind, ensuring consistent network performance all year-round.
Engineered with long-term scalability, the infrastructure is fully equipped to support future technology advancements, including 5G upgrades. This ensures that the site will continue to meet growing demand for faster, more reliable mobile connectivity as digital needs evolve.
The project’s success was underpinned by close collaboration between WIG, local contractors and utility partners. By working alongside organisations such as Scottish Water and trusted local specialists, the build was delivered efficiently, in harmony with the community and with a shared commitment to improving local connectivity.
