{"id":35236,"date":"2023-07-27T14:11:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T13:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=35236"},"modified":"2023-07-27T14:11:40","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T13:11:40","slug":"vodafone-uk-to-boost-rural-4g-mobile-cover-via-church-towers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/07\/vodafone-uk-to-boost-rural-4g-mobile-cover-via-church-towers.html","title":{"rendered":"Vodafone UK to Boost Rural 4G Mobile Cover via Church Towers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mobile operator Vodafone<\/a> has revealed that they’re working with the Church of England, and using Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) technology, to help extend 4G<\/a> mobile (mobile broadband) into remote rural communities by deploying small base stations on top of 11 church bell towers across the country.<\/p>\n

Two of the first locations include the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brompton Regis<\/strong>, Somerset (England), and St Michael\u2019s & All Angels in Ewyas Harold<\/strong>, Herefordshire, with a further nine, located across Dorset, Essex, Norfolk and Wiltshire, going live in the coming months.<\/p>\n

Andrea Dona, Network and Development Director, Vodafone<\/a> UK, said: “Churches are typically very tall, on high ground, and close to the community we\u2019re trying to connect. This makes them the perfect place to install a mobile site, and now we\u2019ve developed technology that\u2019s small enough not to spoil the appearance of the church. Our aim is to use this cutting-edge technology to improve mobile coverage in as many rural locations as possible. This is an important step in ensuring rural communities can enjoy all the benefits of mobile connectivity<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

The new cell sites, which are also being supported by mobile coverage service partner Net CS<\/strong>, involve the deployment of “well-hidden boxes<\/em>” (small cells) that have a 500-metre coverage radius. You can see a short video of this work below.<\/p>\n