Vodafone's divine transformation: Church bells are already ringing for improved rural 4G connectivity!

2023-08-14 12:35:04

Unlocking Better 4G Connectivity in Rural Communities with Church Bell Towers

Vodafone, in partnership with the Church of England and Net CS, is revolutionizing mobile connectivity in rural areas using innovative technology. Together, they are installing state-of-the-art 4G technology in 11 church bell towers across the UK, ensuring reliable and strong 4G signals for rural customers, businesses, and visitors.

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With the installation of discreet boxes within the bell towers, the church towers will now provide a 4G signal with a 500-meter coverage radius.

The Blessed Virgin Mary in Brompton Regis, Somerset, and St Michael’s & All Angels in Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire are the first churches in the UK to go live with this new technology, with nine more churches in Dorset, Essex, Norfolk, and Wiltshire set to follow in the coming months.

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Mobile connectivity plays a pivotal role in supporting rural economies, but obtaining planning permission for traditional mobile masts in rural locations can be challenging. OpenRAN technology offers a compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient solution for rural communities.

Vodafone's use of OpenRAN technology ensures that more places than ever are benefiting from mobile coverage, bridging the digital divide.

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Vodafone became the first UK mobile operator to activate a live OpenRAN site in August 2020, and this technology is set to benefit hundreds of communities across the country by 2027.

Most recently, Vodafone announced the deployment of OpenRAN technology in Exmouth and Torquay, marking the first urban environment application of OpenRAN in Europe.

Andrea Dona, Network and Development Director at Vodafone UK, stated, “Churches are typically very tall, on high ground, and close to the community we’re trying to connect.

This makes them the perfect place to install a mobile site, and now we’ve developed technology that’s 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."

Benefitting Local Communities

The Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, emphasized the positive impact of these church-based sites on local communities. Improved connectivity not only delivers better mobile coverage but also addresses the social justice issue of poor connectivity in rural areas.

Net CS ensures that the new installations are unobtrusive and safe, benefiting both churchgoers and the wider community.

Expanding Coverage and Connectivity

Peter Morrell-Brown, Chairman of Net CS, sees this project as just the beginning of church-based mobile coverage sites across the UK, with the infrastructure being made available to any operator.

This development contributes to Vodafone's ongoing commitment to extend services to rural areas, including initiatives like the Shared Rural Network (SRN), a joint £1bn investment by the UK government and the country's four mobile network operators to enhance overall 4G coverage.

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