The community of Fownhope have become the latest rural community to receive 3G mobile phone coverage as a part of Vodafone’s Rural Open Sure Signal (ROSS) programme.

Until now, Fownhope had suffered from unreliable mobile coverage and slow network speeds. The ROSS programme uses Vodafone’s Sure Signal technology to bring high-quality 3G voice services and much needed access to internet services via mobile devices to communities in some of the UK’s most remote areas.

At a meeting, held on Friday, November 27th at The Bowen’s B&B in Fownhope, some representatives from Vodafone, members of the Fownhope community, and Bill Wiggin, the MP for North Herefordshire attended.

Kevin Braybrook is the owner of The Bowen’s B&B and he is a member of Fownhope Parish Council. He has been campaigning for better mobile phone signal for nearly 18 months now. He told the Ross Gazette: “We get signal inside the house now, which we never did before.

“I think people are very pleased to have it. Previously, you’d have to stand outside somewhere to get a phone signal, and now at least for Vodafone users, you can get a signal.”

Bill Wiggin MP, speaking to the Gazette, said: “I’m thrilled that the Vodafone ROSS scheme has been so effective, and how discreet it is when you see it on top of people’s houses, and this sort of commitment to rural communities really is wonderful, and I’m thrilled to have from Vodafone and I’m thrilled that they’ve done that, and I shall probably change to Vodafone myself because of it.”

To read the full report, see next week’s edition of the Ross Gazette which comes out on Wednesday, December 2nd.