INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
Vodafone works to extend mobile
broadband in rural areas of UK
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I
n a UK industry first, Vodafone is
giving rural communities a boost by
sharing some of its 4G spectrum with
StrattoOpencell to offer high-speed mobile
broadband in remote areas without fibre
connectivity. StrattoOpencell is part of the
Digital Colony UK Infrastructure Platform
(soon to be The Freshwave Group).
StrattoOpencell will use Vodafone’s
2,600MHz frequency spectrum to offer
mobile data speeds of up to 120Mbps to
consumers and businesses without access
to fixed fibre broadband. Vodafone will
continue to use the 2,600MHz spectrum
to provide greater mobile capacity for
customers in busy areas such as stadiums
and city centres.
Vodafone is promoting efficient use of
spectrum under its three-year agreement
with StrattoOpencell. This is possible for
the first time following Ofcom’s decision
in July 2019 to allow mobile operators to
share spectrum. StrattoOpencell will initially
use the spectrum to provide broadband
services to all users at a holiday site in Devon
through the deployment of 4G outdoor small
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cells. The agreement supports Vodafone’s
strategy of using new and innovative ways
to extend fast and reliable mobile services to
those living, working or travelling in remote
areas, while minimising the impact on the
local environment. remains a digital divide in connectivity
options for those in UK’s urban centres and
more rural areas.
Other examples of this strategy include
installing 5G on an existing TV and radio
transmission tower on the Isles of Scilly to
give customers instant access to vital online
services. Vodafone has also erected mini
mobile masts in Cornwall and transformed
old beachfront phone boxes with the latest
4G technology. “We are pioneering new solutions and
services as part of our neutral host approach
to UK digital infrastructure in order to
connect more people and businesses to
reliable networks. This new model takes the
industry a significant step closer to enabling
ubiquitous UK connectivity.”
Vodafone UK’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick
Jeffery, said: “By offering some of our 4G
spectrum to StrattoOpencell, we are helping
to extend fast and reliable mobile network
access for people in rural communities. Mobile
connectivity in rural areas is just as important
as it is for those in towns and cities, which is
why we continue to work with others to help
improve rural connectivity for all.”
Graham Payne, CEO of The Digital Colony
UK Infrastructure Platform, added: “There
We are delighted to join forces with Vodafone
to bring a fresh approach to close this gap.
Philip Marnick, Group Director, Spectrum,
Ofcom, commented: “Our new sharing
approach aims to help more people access
the airwaves they need to create local
networks around the UK, including improving
connections in rural areas.
“Vodafone and StrattoOpencell are the
first to take advantage of this. We look
forward to seeing how others use our new
spectrum access approach to support
innovation and enable local communities
to have better connections.” n
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