Highland Council urges communities not to miss out on Vodafone 3G mobile access

6th October 2014

The Highland Council is highlighting a mobile phone access programme to communities in the region who currently have no 3G mobile reception.

Vodafone UK has teamed up with the National Association of Local Councils and Countryside Alliance to encourage more communities to apply to its Rural Open Sure Signal programme.

The programme is a community led initiative, which is giving 100 rural communities, in poor mobile coverage locations across the UK, the opportunity to receive 3G mobile access for the first time.

Vodafone UK is encouraging small businesses and community councils to actively engage with their local villages to apply for the installation of Vodafone's innovative Rural Open Sure Signal technology. The national programme closes for applications on 14th October 2014.

Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning Development and Environment Committee said: "We know that many communities are still concerned that they are left of mobile phone coverage. So I would urge them to take a look at this programme as it might be what they are looking for and could make a difference. Please note the deadline for applications which is on the 14th of October."

Vodafone Open Sure Signal provides a Vodafone 3G signal in areas which traditional mobile coverage has been unable to reach. About the size of a domestic broadband box and in a range of colours, the units use existing broadband services to deliver the Vodafone 3G mobile signal. The units can be installed on any number of buildings including village halls, pubs, shops and homes across the community to ensure widespread mobile coverage.

The benefits of mobile connectivity in rural communities are enormous - from all important calls to family and friends to local enterprises having mobile signal to help make their businesses work better. Vodafone’s initial Rural Open Sure Signal trial has seen the connection of 12 rural communities across the UK, from Walls in the Shetland Islands to Newton St Cyres in Devon. Communities connected so far have been enjoying social media using mobile internet whilst businesses, from GPs to a mussel farmer, now have mobile signal to help make their businesses work better.

For more information on the programme visit www.vodafone.co.uk/rural or see the official blog http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/