Vodafone UK has announced the beautiful market community of Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire as the first community in a rural mobile not-spot location to receive 3G coverage under its Rural Open Sure Signal programme.

With the installation of Vodafone’s innovative Sure Signal technology, the local community in Minchinhampton will from today benefit from high quality 3G voice services, and much needed access to the internet via mobile devices, contributing positively to business and everyday life.

The Rural Open Sure Signal programme is a national initiative by Vodafone UK to provide reliable mobile access to up to 100 rural communities in mobile not-spot locations. Launched in July 2014, with support from local MPs, councils and rural action groups, the programme has received an overwhelming response from around the country. Applications have come from island communities in rural Shetland to mountain communities in Snowdonia and picturesque Cornish villages on the southern coastline as well as along the east coast in Norfolk.

The Rural Open Sure Signal programme uses innovative ‘femtocell’ technology to provide an alternative solution to bring mobile access in locations where it isn’t possible for networks to provide coverage through traditional means.

Jeroen Hoencamp, Vodafone UK Chief Executive, said: “Mobile connectivity is an essential service for communities and businesses to thrive in today’s digital world and support local economies. I am delighted to announce Minchinhampton as the first of the 100 communities we will light up. As part of the Rural Open Sure Signal programme, we are committed to investing in our network, using innovative technologies such as Sure Signal to provide access even in remote locations where it is otherwise almost impossible to reach. I am excited to see the transformation for Minchinhampton and every other community which has been successful for this pioneering programme.”

As well as using Rural Open Sure Signal to plug rural “not-spots”, Vodafone is spending more than £1 billion on its network and services across the country this year, including extending its 4G coverage to 340 cities and towns and thousands of smaller communities across the UK. Vodafone have pledged to provide coverage using 2G, 3G or 4G services to 98 per cent of the UK population.

Rural Open Sure Signal programme will connect up to 100 rural communities in non-spot locations over the next 12 months. Further communities will be announced over the few months. For more information on the programme, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/rural. Vodafone will continue to accept applications submitted after 7 The next 29 communities to shortlisted to receive Rural Open Sure Signal technology include: Throverton (Devon) Bridgerule (Devon) Shobrooke (Devon) Chesil Bank (Dorset) Coln St Aldwyns (Gloucestershire) Broad Chalk (Wiltshire) Spring Grove (Somerset)