The Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) project in England has re-opened their Mobile Boost Voucher Scheme (MBVS) after receiving £430,000 of fresh funding. The scheme works to improve rural 4G mobile (mobile broadband and voice) availability by offering vouchers (up to £1,300) to help deploy indoor signal boosters or repeaters.
The MBVS, which is being funded through the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s (HotSWLEP) Growth Deal, is targeted at those premises which have no adequate access to indoor 4G coverage from any operator or only one operator.
The original scheme, which ran for two years, eventually closed in March 2023 after using up over £1.1m of investment and helping over 1,700 residents and businesses to benefit from a better mobile phone signal (some said this “transformed” their lives).
Businesses and residents that make use of this scheme, including those in Somerset, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth (South West England), are also required to make a modest contribution which, depending on the option chosen, will range from up to £400 +vat for installation to a monthly fee for a SIM card (averaging c. £30 per month). This is because the main cost, as covered by the voucher, is largely in the expensive hardware itself.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert (Devon), CDS Board Member, said:
“The Mobile Boost scheme has been hugely popular and it’s extremely rewarding to hear from people that it’s made such a difference to their business or their daily lives. People in some rural areas continue to struggle with their mobile signal so I’m pleased that this new funding support will enable more people to benefit from improved connectivity.”
One catch with all this is that you can only buy from a list of three registered suppliers, and most of those hide the actual hardware/kit details and prices behind registration forms. This makes it harder for those with an interest to investigate the details and costs before deciding whether to pursue a voucher.