Vodafone has announced it is rolling out 3G voice and data service to 40 ‘non-spots’ in the UK.
The announcement comes as part of Vodafone’s ‘Rural Open Sure Signal’ program, which is focused on bringing mobile internet services to places current mobile masts can’t reach using innovative ‘femtocell’ technology, which uses fixed line networks to boost 3G signal over a short radius.
Launched in July, the scheme aims to provide 3G coverage to 100 unserved villages and hamlets across the U.K. While Vodafone announced the name of the first 60 locations under the ‘Rural Open Sure Signal’ program during November, it has now picked the final 40 communities.
This is the list of final 40 places to be short-listed in the program, including communities in Argyll & Bute, Borders, Caithness, Cornwall, Co Tyrone, Cumbria, Denbighshire, Fife, Hampshire, Inverness-shire, Outer Hebrides, Ross-shire, Selkirkshire, Shetlands, Suffolk, Warwickshire, Wigtownshire and Yorkshire.
“I am delighted to announce that we have now shortlisted all 100 ‘not spot’ communities who could benefit from Vodafone’s Rural Open Sure Signal programme,” said Jeroen Hoencamp, chief executive of Vodafone UK.
According to Ofcom, two per cent of the UK is still deprived of any form of internet coverage.
