The Connecting Devon and Somerset Mobile Boost Scheme which helps small businesses and households boost their indoor mobile coverage has been extended to the end of February next year (subject to demand) thanks to a new £430,000 investment.
The programme aims to upgrade indoor 4G coverage for both businesses and homes in order to improve connectivity and the ability to make voice calls.
It focuses on small business connections and targets those premises which have no adequate 4G indoor coverage from any operator or only one operator.
The programme allows businesses and households to apply for a voucher of up to £1,300 towards the cost of one of a number of mobile signal booster options from a registered scheme supplier.
The value of the voucher is dependent on the type of technology most suitable for the premises in question. Businesses and residents are required to make a contribution which, depending on the option chosen, will range from up to £400 for installation to a monthly fee for a SIM card (averaging circa £30 per month).
The scheme reopened earlier this year after previously been run for two years with more than £1.1 million of funding through the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s (HotSWLEP) Growth Deal.
In that time, it helped over 1,700 residents and businesses benefit from a better mobile phone signal. It is now overseen by Somerset Council and Devon County Council with support from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, CDS Board Member and Somerset Council Lead Member for Transport and Digital, said: “This latest funding for the Mobile Boost scheme is very welcome.
“This initiative has already had a positive impact across Somerset and Devon and I’ve no doubt that we will see plenty more applications coming from residents and businesses.”
For more information go to the Mobile Boost Voucher Scheme pages on the CDS website.
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