I read with interest the current 4G trial going on in the Cumbrian village of Kaber.
Residents there have been given a years free access to the 4G signal using dongles and Mi-FI units. Judging by the feedback from residents they have been overjoyed to be able to use broadband services.
Kaber resident Mike Bridway told the Westmorland Gazette : “You can’t put a price on how important rural broadband is for us. More and more functions are happening online and if you don’t have it you are in danger of being left behind.”
The new 4G signal, which can upload and download over double the amount of data compared to the best 3G signal, is seen as a vital lifeline for rural communities.
Rory Stewart the Tory MP for Penrith and the Borders is one of the main voices pushing for a faster rollout out of 4G services in rural areas, which have the obvious advantage over their fixed connection counterparts, in cost.
Current 3G services providers including Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile are less than happy about the 4G rollout planning potentially damaging legal action to prevent the auction of any new 4G service.