A £1 billion scheme to improve rural mobile phone coverage will provide a boost to Mid-Wales, the MP for Montgomeryshire has said.

The Shared Rural Network scheme will see EE, O2, Three and Vodafone build and upgrade phone masts to end partial ‘not-spot’ areas where only some, but not all, mobile network operators(MNO) provide 4G coverage.

Figures released by the programme forecast that the Mid and West Wales region’s 4G coverage from all four MNOs will be boosted to 78%, up from 51% last year, while coverage will also increase from 86% to 97% via at least one mobile operator, the programme says.

Craig Williams, Welsh Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, welcomed the news as a "significant boost", and says the scheme will prioritise areas which currently have slow connections, and which would otherwise have been left behind in broadband companies’ rollout plans.

"The Government’s Shared Rural Network programme is fantastic news for Montgomeryshire and Mid Wales, and is a major step forwarding in eradicating mobile not-spots within the region once and for all," he said.

"I am extremely pleased that the UK Government is so committed to levelling up the digital playing field across every part of Wales, no matter how rural or isolated.

"These plans will ensure that many more of us across Montgomeryshire can look forward to sweeping coverage of fast and reliable 4G within our homes and when out and about, and a next-generation gigabit broadband connection when at home or at work.

"There is of course still much more work to do to ensure everyone has the connectivity we require, but I am extremely encouraged that Montgomeryshire is well on the way to achieving full digital prosperity."

The UK Government says it will set out the timeline for delivery of these connections once it has agreed the procurement process with the Welsh Government.