4G internet is coming to an area of Swindon 12 years after the first 4G services arrived in the UK and with 6G already being anticipated.

The faster mobile internet came to Highworth last week thanks to a collaboration between Vodafone and the town council and is available to Vodafone customers.

Poor mobile coverage in Highworth has been a “persistent problem” due to its geography and its location in a conservation area.

“Mobile coverage in the heart of Highworth has always been a persistent problem for residents and visitors alike,” said town councillor Simon Apps.

“As a hilltop town, the signal from the existing mast sites struggled to reach, and when combined with the thick-walled buildings dating back to the Queen Anne and Georgian periods, the chances of picking up any signal inside any of the High Street or Marketplace shops were practically non-existent.”

Cllr Apps met with Vodafone’s south regional network manager, Pete Rodriguez, then they met with town mayor Julie Murphy to plan a fix - a shoebox-sized mini-mast built that sits on the side of a building, using OpenRAN technology.

Since last week, Vodafone says it has provided a reliable 4G signal to its customers on the High Street. 

Rodriguez said: “Bringing connectivity to beautiful locations such as Highworth is a challenge for any network because we’re unable to support using traditional masts.

“OpenRAN technology means we can reach locations we haven’t been able to reach before.”

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