A LAKE District valley with patchy mobile reception and unreliable connections is to be 'super-charged' by Vodafone.

The rugged Borrowdale Valley, which runs between Keswick and Buttermere, is to received enhanced 3G coverage from the network provider.

It means Vodafone customers will get better signals and quicker speeds on their phones.

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It has been named by Vodafone as one of the first wave of 30 communities UK-wide to join the Rural Open Sure Signal programme.

The programme is a national initiative by Vodafone UK to provide reliable mobile access to up to 100 rural communities in what are regarded as mobile 'not-spot' locations.

Launched in July this year, it follows successful trials in 12 locations across UK.

A Vodafone spokesman said 3G is likely to follow some time in the next 12 months but could not yet be more specific as it was dependent on planning permission and other factors. 

The technology used does not rely on phone masts, but rather 'femtocells.'

The company explained that a femtocell is basically a small, very low-powered 3G mobile phone 'base station'.