Our partners
Overview
Every year in early June, over 100,000 people make their way to the Royal Cornwall Show over three days. This year, we were proud to support VodafoneThree with delivering connectivity at one of the UK’s leading rural events. Unlike previous years, this time the connectivity held strong.
Cornerstone deployed a fully managed 30-metre Gravity Based Solution (GBS) on behalf of VodafoneThree to deliver reliable mobile coverage across the entire showground. It’s the first of what we hope will be many events supported through our Special Events proposition, a deployable infrastructure service designed for festivals, shows, and high-footfall gatherings.
Alongside our infrastructure delivery, the event also offered a valuable opportunity to connect with business leaders, landowners, local government and public services. With our partners at Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, we helped highlight how digital infrastructure supports not just business and tourism, but community resilience and rural growth.
Our response to the challenge
The Royal Cornwall Show is more than a date in the diary. It’s a major milestone for the region, bringing together farmers, traders, emergency services, policymakers, and the public in one space. Between this event and the Devon County Show, more than £80 million is generated for the South West economy each year.
Historically, mobile coverage has been patchy. Traders have struggled to take payments, the public has experienced dropouts, and emergency teams have faced limitations when coordinating across the site.
Cornerstone worked in close partnership with VodafoneThree to deploy a temporary 30m mobile mast, planned, delivered, and serviced by our team. The fully managed solution provided strong Vodafone 5G coverage throughout the event, improving user experience for businesses, visitors and responders.
Making a difference on the ground
“This year, I could sit with my laptop and work in the open air. That wasn’t possible before.”
Matthew Morris, Rural Director, Duchy of Cornwall
“The improvement in mobile coverage this year was obvious, and really welcome.”
Karen Hurn, Head of Fundraising, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust
“Supporting the Royal Cornwall Show wasn’t just about delivering infrastructure, it was about showing up, listening, and making a difference on the ground. This deployment brought together engineering, logistics, and stakeholder engagement in a real-time environment, and I’m incredibly proud of the Cornerstone team for making it happen. It’s a clear demonstration of what we can do when performance and purpose come together.”
Helen Main, Head of Demand and Delivery, Cornerstone
“Delivering consistent and reliable mobile coverage and performance at major rural events is never straightforward, but this deployment showed what’s possible when the right teams come together. The solution Cornerstone put in place at the Royal Cornwall Show enabled us to provide the level of connectivity our customers expect, even in a challenging environment. It’s a great example of proactive collaboration and a great customer outcome.”
Ker Anderson, Head of Radio & Performance, VodafoneThree
Beyond the infrastructure
Our presence at the Show went far beyond deployment. We used the opportunity to deepen our relationships with key local stakeholders, many of whom are directly involved in the planning approvals, land access and partnerships that underpin better digital infrastructure in the South West. We spoke with Adam Paynter, Deputy Leader of Cornwall Council, about the importance of streamlining planning processes to accelerate infrastructure rollout. John Brown, CEO of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the investment in connectivity and emphasised the need to ensure Cornwall isn’t left behind. We also engaged with landowners and farmers like Sue and Ed Jenkins, who shared how reliable mobile coverage is becoming essential to the success of modern agriculture. And with our partners at Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, we joined breakfast briefings, networking sessions with Business Cornwall, and Cornwall’s Rewind Radio noticed the mast and commented on it, raising awareness of the importance of mobile infrastructure and reinforcing our commitment to meaningful local partnerships.
The result
Reliable coverage. Seamless trading. Stronger emergency communications. A better experience for everyone involved.
Feedback from traders and exhibitors was consistently positive, and the public noticed the difference. One attendee showed us their mobile speed test:
“It’s the fastest download I’ve ever had at the Show. Usually, I can’t even send a message.”
The Royal Cornwall Show marked the launch of Cornerstone’s Special Events proposition, proving how temporary infrastructure can unlock tangible benefit in rural and hard-to-reach settings.
Why connectivity matters to rural communities
Connectivity is no longer a luxury in rural communities, it’s essential. For safety. For commerce. For social inclusion. For economic growth.
At Cornerstone, we’re proud to deliver the infrastructure that supports it, and to work with partners like VodafoneThree, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, and local leaders to bring those benefits to life.
“This was a landmark moment for Cornerstone, showcasing the very real impact our infrastructure has on communities. It sets a benchmark for what we can achieve together.”
– Pat Coxen, CEO, Cornerstone
Our services
- Temporary mobile mast deployment (30m GBS)
- Special Events proposition: managed infrastructure for public gatherings
- End-to-end delivery and servicing
- Partner coordination with MNOs, councils and landowners
- Stakeholder engagement across public and private sectors
- Supporting mobile connectivity in rural and underserved areas