Press Release
Nextivity Inc, global suppliers of next-generation mobile signal boosters for inbuilding and in-vehicle usage, have seen increased demand for their award-winning product range to overcome connectivity inequalities brought to light by the pandemic. Demand is being driven further since a major MNO’s decision to retire its branded signal boosters.
The seismic shift to home working/hybrid working has seen the average monthly data usage per household increase by 80% since 2019, with recent figures showing that each connection now uses approximately 4.5 GB per month, according to Ofcom. Mobile network usage has also risen by 42% over the same period. In paradox, according to the same report, around 190 000 households have substandard broadband. The report also revealed that:
• Only 66% of UK population has superfast internet access
• Over 1 million premises cannot access a decent fixed line broadband connection
• Only 27% of UK properties have access to Gigabit broadband
• Fewer than one in 5 UK households have access to all fibre broadband
In some parts of the UK reliable 4G coverage is also problematic. Moreover, although this service transports more than 90% of the nation’s network data, 9% of the country is still considered a “4G ‘not-spot.” In rural areas this figure is significantly higher. Not only that, it is estimated that only 46% of rural premises have 4G data coverage from all operators compared with 86% in urban areas.
The mobile connectivity challenge is particularly problematic in counties like Somerset and Devon. Indeed, 4G and broadband coverage here is so intermittent that the local authorities have introduced a government backed mobile phone booster voucher scheme to improve the situation in commercial and residential properties. Funded via the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSWLEP) and Available via the Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDX) initiative, the scheme provides funding to a maximum value of £1.2K towards the cost of installing a Cel-Fi by Nextivity mobile signal booster (available via a list of registered suppliers) to improve voice and data connectivity.
“Since the CDX was initially launched Somerset and Devon councils have improved the broadband situation in over 300k properties, and we’re expecting to supply thousands of mobile signal boosters to improve 4G coverage over the forthcoming months,” says Gareth Limpeny CEO of Frequency Telecom, an approved distributor of Cel-Fi Mobile signal boosters. “The equipment will have a profound impact on people’s lives by providing seamless access to voice and data services at an affordable price point.”
“Mobile signal boosters are perfectly suited to overcome connectivity challenges in rural locations where dead spots are prevalent,” says Colin Abrey, VP, Channel Sales, EMEA, Nextivity. “Unlike conventional broadband units which can take months to deploy because of the fibre cabling requirements at street level, Cel-Fi units can be up and running in just a few days.”
Cel-Fi by Nextivity mobile signal boosters mitigate mobile coverage challenges in private homes, public and commercial buildings, as well as in different vehicle types via an easy to install solution. The product range features the world class Intelliboost chipset at its core and this built-in intelligence allows the system’s mobile signal-boosting units to reliably enhance 3G and 4G signals inside all mid-tier commercial and residential buildings. Cel-Fi by Nextivity is also the only mobile repeater system that fully satisfies Ofcom’s specification requirements by not interfering with other wireless devices and by delivering an unconditionally network safe guarantee, making it legal to use on all current mobile networks. Cel-Fi by Nextivity signal boosters are also future-ready to support 5G.
