UPDATE Vodafone Bring 3G to High Kelling, Hillington and Upper Sheringham

Mobile operator Vodafone has expanded the reach of their Rural Open Sure Signal (Femtocell) technology to bring 3G based Mobile Broadband and voice services to three further remote rural communities in Norfolk (England), including High Kelling, Hillington, and Upper Sheringham.

The service, which was originally tested with 12 villages in 2011/12 (here) and is now aiming to reach a further 100 communities (here and here), works by harnessing an existing fixed line connection in order to link with Vodafone’s network and boost outdoor mobile coverage. It can also work in some villages where non-BT altnet ISPs have been setup (here).

Jorge Fernandes, Vodafone UK’s CTO, said:

“Mobile connectivity is an essential service for rural areas, however, getting traditional coverage to these areas can be deeply frustrating when faced with areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a lack of required broadband. However, we’re determined not be beaten on rural coverage and we know ROSS works. This will make such a difference – not only for the people who work and live in them, but the hundreds of visitors they receive each year.”

At the last update in late July 2015 the operator said that they were aiming to deploy to new sites at a rate of one or two a week until March 2016.

UPDATE 21st September 2015

Vodafone has also delivered the above service to Easton and Itchen Abbas in the Itchen Valley (Hampshire).