Vodafone’s goal: To provide its rural users a much better reception
Just recently, an announcement was made that Vodafone have planned to sell a broadband device that aims to enhance their mobile phone signal strength. This will be done through the use of broadband connection at home to route calls.
Access Gateway is a fresh new product, which costs £160, with a monthly charge of £5 per month. This is planned to be released by the end of June. Ian Shephard, consumer director of Vodafone UK, stated his positive beliefs on the usefulness of this device. This device is ideal for users, who are based in rural areas in the country. There is limited access; and several experts have made criticisms regarding this new signal-enhancing device. Vodafone is one cheap means to increase its network coverage.
"The Vodafone Access Gateway will boost indoor mobile phone coverage for customers who today find they need to move around the rooms in their home to get consistent signal strength." Shephard mentioned.
This size of this new device is the same as that of a broadband router, which connects over a standard broadband line. Also included in its features is its ability to permit users to access the device with the use of any mobile phone, which can connect over a 3G network.
Some experts say that the benefits that were brought by this new device are also proven to be useful for mobile broadband users, who are using a USB modem.
By 2012, the government has an objective to provide universal broadband access at a speed of at least 2Mbps. They will do it with the help of this new device.
However, the objective of this new device to provide the added coverage needed to give broadband users in the more rural areas access is presently considered to be unachievable.
