Rural connectivity still below par, survey finds

RURAL broadband and mobile coverage is still falling short of what British farming businesses need to operate efficiently and safely, according to new research.

- ATHWENNA IRONS

The latest National Farmers' Union (NFU) Digital Access Survey paints a stark picture of the digital divide facing countryside communities, with over a fifth of farmers unable to access even a 'decent' internet speed.

The survey of over 600 members revealed that 21% have broadband speeds under 10Mbps compared to the national average of less than 1%, while only 22% said they had reliable mobile signal across their entire farm.

Just a third - 33% - have access to fibre broadband, significantly below the UK average of 57%, and nearly one out of ten respondents have no 4G or 5G access.

Rachel Hallos, vice president of the NFU, said reliable broadband and mobile coverage are “not optional”, with the overwhelming majority of farmers who took part in the survey considering mobile signal (98%) and broadband (91%) as crucial to their operations.