VODAFONE has plans to install a mast in Launceston to improve online mobile connectivity in the town, writes Amy Dennis.

Representatives from the company explained plans to the Post after visiting Penzance.

Penzance is the first town in the UK to trial a new technology, which enables Vodafone’s existing mobile spectrums bands to be combined on certain masts, to provide faster mobile data speeds and stronger signal.

Vodafone, which said it has invested more than £2-billion on its network and services since 2014, expects to spend another £2-billion over the next three years.

The company said it is ‘continuously improving its coverage in the South West’, and Rob Matthews, of Vodafone, said: “It’s a big challenge at the moment for all mobile networks. In the last 15 to 20 years the expectation has massively changed. Now everyone expects it to be a universal coverage.

“Whilst I can understand it’s frustrating, we are now starting to rollout 4G, and in particular 3G. We are in the progress of upgrading the network in Launceston.”

He added in the next 12 months Launceston will see 4G on the network and ‘wider coverage for the area in general’.

In Launceston, Vodafone is looking at upgrading two 4G base stations — including the O2 station near the leisure centre — and adding in a third one. A few years ago, Vodafone and Telefonica agreed to merge network infrastructure.

Mr Matthews said: “We currently have a base station by the A30 but we don’t think this is best for serving Launceston.”

He said a planning application for the new mast would be submitted in the next three to six months, but added: “We always consult with ward councillors and town councillors before we get to the planning stage.

“Launceston is the gateway down to Cornwall. Thousands of visitors come past. Launceston has ambitions to get on the map — where people want to come and do business but also where visitors want to come. I think it’s important you have that network in the area.”

The company is also keen to hear from communities that may benefit from Vodafone’s Community Indoor Sure Signal (CISS) programme. The programme aims to provide mobile 3G coverage to up to 100 rural community hubs, such as independent or community run pubs and shops, village halls, scouts huts, doctors’ surgeries or visitor centres, which do not have it.

Communities can find out more about the programme at www.vodafone.uk/CISS

A previous programme by the company, called Rural Open Sure Signal (ROSS), which uses a cereal box-size unit connected to buildings such as pubs and village halls to provide 3G coverage for a community, led to the launch of the CISS programme. Lifton and Tinhay were among ‘not-spots’ that benefitted from the ROSS programme.

Mr Matthews added: “We are the only operator looking at how we will reach those hard to reach places.”