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New mobile mast gets great reception from locals

John Devine
BBC News Cambridgeshire
Reporting fromManea
John Devine/BBC Ben Bonos, 44, has very short cropped hair and stubble on his face, he is wearing a grey hoodie top with a green t-shirt underneath, behind him in a village park with 5-a-side goalposts visible on the right and the new 20m (65ft) tall, green mobile phone signal mast to the left.John Devine/BBC
Councillor Ben Bonos said he campaigned for nearly six years to get a mobile phone signal mast installed in the village

The arrival of a new 4G phone mast following a six-year campaign received a great reception from locals.

Chairman of Manea Parish Council Ben Bonos said he fought a long battle to get the installation completed in Manea, Cambridgeshire.

The Fenland village has traditionally been a so-called "not spot" for mobile phone signal.

Bonos, 44, believed the new mast would "open up opportunities for people", while one happy resident said they had signal for the first time in nearly a decade.

John Devine/BBC Blue sly with a green 20m (65ft) tall 4G mobile signal mast with trees behind and in front of it. Some housing can be seen in the background and floodlights from an all-weather football/netball playing surface are visible too.John Devine/BBC
The 20m (65ft) tall mast, installed by O2 engineers in January 2025, allowed children in the nearby park to keep in contact with family

Bonos said the original application to install the mast was rejected in 2019 and there were later problems to do with trees, land ownership, acquisition, radio requirements, and fibre availability.

Covid-19 then further delayed the project by about 18 months.

"Remote working has become more prevalent since Covid-19 and many residents in towns and cities take a good signal for granted - I think the new mast will change people's lives," he said.

"Connectivity issues are among the biggest disadvantages faced by people who live in rural communities, restricting their opportunities."

John Devine/BBC Hannah Cooke, 41 has dyed red hair pulled back tightly over her head she has bold black eyebrows and has dangling silver earrings. She is wearing a fleecy pink top and has a silver chain around her neck. Behind her is a roadway with cars parked and one silver car driving past her there are houses visible too.John Devine/BBC
Ms Cooke said the new mast meant she did not have to "walk around her home wafting the phone about to get a signal"

Hannah Cooke, 41, said the improved mobile phone signal was a "boon for her".

"The mobile phone signal here has always been absolutely rubbish, previously I had to run upstairs to answer a call, apologising to the caller that I could not hear them"

She added: "I think a lot of people are very happy since the mast has been put in place."

Residents took to social media to praise the new mast and one user said: "My phone signal has also improved! Great addition to Manea, it's been a long time coming."

Another posted: "I have a phone signal at home for the first time in nine years!"

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