Vodafone UK is offering improved mobile coverage to users in rural communities, although only some will feel the benefits of a new programme based on its femtocell technology.

The operator is giving up to 100 rural communities the chance to apply with their local MP for installation of its Open Sure Signal technology in their village or hamlet.

Open Sure Signal is a community version of Vodafone’s 3G-based femto service (Sure Signal) for domestic users.

Poor quality mobile coverage from UK operators is a source of complaint among rural users, and is frequently aired to politicians.

According to a recent report, the UK government is studying the use of national roaming to boost coverage.

In addition to Vodafone’s domestic Sure Signal device, up to one million users could have mobile signals in their community thanks to their new service, said the operator.

The move follows Vodafone’s Rural Open Sure Signal trial which gave access to 12 communities across the UK.

Launched in 2009, the operator said its Sure Signal service is used by hundreds of thousands of users across the UK to improve in-building 3G coverage. The femtocell plugs into a user’s fixed broadband line.