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<p>The Emergency Services Network is being provided primarily to deliver world class
critical voice and data to the emergency services to replace the aging and expensive
Airwave network.</p><p>To provide the necessary coverage for ESN, mobile network operator
EE is building over 400 new sites and upgrading its entire existing network to 4G.</p><p><br>Across
the whole of Scotland, EE is deploying over 350 sites for the ESN programme, with
277 having been activated to date. The new 4G coverage these sites deliver, in addition
to the upgrading of existing masts, will be available to EE’s commercial customers
in addition to the emergency services. In Angus, EE has deployed and activated one
new site.</p><p><br>For all new sites being built by EE, they are encouraging sharing
with the other MNOs through a clear and well-understood industry process, in line
with our State Aid requirements. In addition to the new sites being provided by EE,
the ESN programme is responsible for providing approximately 300 sites in the most
remote and rural areas of Great Britain as part of the Extended Area Service (EAS)
project.</p><p>Twelve of these EAS sites are planned in Angus and these are composed
of nine greenfield sites and three sites shared with the existing Airwave service.
Construction is forecast to start on the first greenfield site this month, with a
second site in May, followed by three sites beginning construction in June, one in
July, two in August and the final one in November.</p><p><br>Across the whole of Scotland
123 EAS sites are planned, including 75 greenfield sites, 30 sites shared with the
existing Airwave service, and 18 sites shared with other mobile network operators.
Of these 18 shared sites, 11 are proposed as shared sites with the Scottish Government
4G infill programme.</p><p>Of the 75 greenfield sites across Scotland, six have now
completed construction, and construction is underway on a further 11 sites. The remainder
are at various different stages of the necessary planning and legal processes before
construction can begin.</p>
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