STATE of the art telephone and internet connection could be on its way to rural South Lakeland.


Vodafone will submit plans to build a 15 metre antenna and six metre transmission dish in Grasmere that will have the latest superfast 4G capability.


The proposal, currently at the pre-planning stage, is hoped to be completed by the end of the year, revolutionising the area's notoriously bad 2G internet and phone connection.


The site, at Dunmail Raise Hut, already has a 10 metre telecommunications poll and dish but Vodafone plan to replace them with more modern equipment - but it will have to be approved by the Lake District National Park planning committee.


A statement released by Vodafone, who are teaming-up with Telefonica, said they hope using the same site will 'significantly reduce the environmental impact of network development'.


Vodafone said: "We are working on developing 4G services in Cumbria.

"4G technology will allow our customers to use ultra-fast speeds when browsing the internet, streaming videos, or sending emails wherever they are.

"It also means faster downloads on the go. Base stations are low powered devices which cover approximately half a mile in radius, therefore we have to put base stations close to our customers."


But some locals are sceptical.


Ann Sowerbutts, a Lakes Parish Councillor for the Ambleside Ward, said: "I'm for it in the fact that a number of places in Grasmere don't get a decent connection at all but if it's going to look absolutely obvious and isn't painted green or black then I would be against it."


Stephen Truelove, from Grasmere, is a telecommunications expert with experience of working for several phone and broadband companies such as 3 and T-Mobile.


He believes that this move comes as part of the Mobile Infrastructure Project which aims to fill all the internet 'not spots' or 'dead zones' around the country.


However, with just a handful of residents living around the Dunmail Raise site, it is likely to benefit tourists and road-users more than locals.

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He said: "There aren't a great number of people living up there so the main aim would be at road users along the A591 - it would provide vocal coverage for rural roads.

"It would be an improvement as at present it's just 2G so it would be a real step forward. It would be a benefit to the huge influx of tourists that Grasmere gets."