Case study: Enabling growth through connectivity – Kilchoman Distillery, Islay, and the wider UK economy
Telecoms networks are critical enablers of economic growth, underpinning productivity, innovation and competitiveness across the UK. The experience of Kilchoman Distillery on Islay provides an example of how improved mobile connectivity, delivered through the Shared Rural Network (SRN), is transforming business performance in rural areas while supporting the broader development of a digitally connected national economy.
Historically, Kilchoman Distillery operated within a “total not‑spot”, with no mobile signal. This limited its ability to engage customers in real time, communicate efficiently with suppliers, and fully participate in digital commerce. The activation of a new UK Government funded SRN mast in 2026 brought 4G connectivity from all four operators to the west of Islay for the first time.
The impact has been immediate and tangible. Visitors can now share reviews and content while on site, strengthening marketing reach and brand visibility. The distillery can host live outdoor tastings and virtual experiences, expanding its audience beyond physical visitors. Internally, improved communications with suppliers and staff have enhanced operational efficiency and responsiveness. These changes illustrate how connectivity directly supports revenue generation, customer engagement and productivity in even the most remote settings.
Crucially, this local transformation reflects a wider national trend. The SRN, a partnership between government and mobile operators, has already extended 4G coverage to over 96% of the UK landmass, tackling both partial and total not‑spots. By improving connectivity in rural and hard‑to‑reach areas, the programme is addressing long‑standing digital inequalities that have constrained business growth.
Evidence pulled together by research company FarrPoint, shows that enhanced mobile connectivity delivers measurable economic value across the UK. Analysis of rural 4G deployments found that a single mast can generate between hundreds of thousands and several million pounds of social and economic benefit over time, supporting local industries such as tourism, agriculture and fishing. For businesses like Kilchoman Distillery, this translates into the ability to operate more efficiently, reach wider markets and compete on a more equal footing with urban counterparts.
The benefits extend beyond individual firms to entire sectors. In tourism, improved connectivity enables businesses to be more visible and bookable online, while enhancing visitor experience through contactless payments, navigation tools and real‑time information. This is particularly significant for regions like Argyll & Bute, home to Islay, where tourism is a major economic driver with an annual tourism turnover of almost £265million, and digital engagement increasingly shapes visitor behaviour.
In manufacturing and other rural industries, connectivity acts as a foundation for the adoption of advanced technologies. Research from VMO2 indicates that improved digital connectivity could increase rural manufacturing turnover by more than 7%, contributing billions to the UK economy. Technologies such as real‑time inventory management, automation and remote monitoring all rely on robust connectivity, enabling businesses to optimise operations, reduce costs and innovate.
More broadly, telecommunications infrastructure underpins the UK’s emerging tech ecosystem. Government and industry recognise mobile and broadband networks as foundational infrastructure, comparable to transport and energy, because they enable the diffusion of digital technologies across all sectors. From cloud computing and e‑commerce to agri‑tech and remote working, connectivity allows businesses to access tools, data and markets that drive growth and productivity.
The SRN plays a critical role in ensuring these benefits are distributed across the whole country, not just urban centres. By extending reliable mobile coverage to rural communities, it creates the conditions for inclusive growth, supports regional economies and strengthens resilience. Improved connectivity enables businesses to process digital payments, manage bookings on the move, and communicate seamlessly with customers and suppliers. It also enhances access to services such as digital healthcare and education, further supporting workforce participation and skills development.
For Kilchoman Distillery, the arrival of 4G through the SRN has enabled a step change in how the business operates and grows. For the wider UK economy, it demonstrates that telecoms networks are not simply utilities, but critical enablers of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. By investing in programmes like the Shared Rural Network, the UK is strengthening the digital foundations required for a dynamic, connected and expanding economy, ensuring that businesses, wherever they are located, can fully participate in and contribute to national growth.
Meet the Team
Chris Hazell
Josh Turpin
Josh Turpin
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
