Vodafone UK Bring Femtocell 3G Mobile to 7 Rural Cumbria Villages

Mobile operator Vodafone have today announced that their Rural Open Sure Signal (Femtocell) technology has been deployed to seven remote villages in Cumbria (England), which means they can now access 3G based Mobile Broadband and voice services for the first time.

Until now the operator has tended to prefer a more piecemeal roll-out of the ROSS technology, which works by harnessing an existing fixed line broadband connection in order to link with Vodafone’s network and boost outdoor mobile coverage. Obviously this only works in areas where a good fixed line connection is available, so it’s not a perfect solution.

The good news is that Bullgill, Gilcrux, Caldbeck, Hesket Newmarket, Rosthwaite, Seatoller and Uldale have now all been connected to the service, which is already taking an average of over 60 mobile calls and supporting over 7,500 data sessions a day.

Jorge Fernandes, Vodafone UK CEO, said:

“I am delighted that these communities have joined our Rural Open Sure Signal programme. Mobile connectivity is an essential service for communities and businesses to thrive in today’s digital world and support local economies. As part of the Rural Open Sure Signal programme, we are committed to investing in our network to provide access even in remote locations where it is otherwise almost impossible to reach.

The number of calls and data sessions the units are supporting every day, where there was marginal coverage previously, shows the significant benefit the technology is making to members of these communities. I am excited to see the transformation for these places in Cumbria and other communities which have been successful for this pioneering programme.”

Overall the aim is to expand the service to 100 communities (here and here), although that goal was set almost two years ago and progress has been a little on the slow side. So far only a little over 40 of the communities have actually received the promised service.