Rural digital connectivity gap remains

Reliable internet and mobile coverage are increasingly essential for everyday life, from working and learning to accessing services and keeping in touch. Yet people living in rural areas continue to face a digital connectivity gap compared with those in urban areas.

The latest Government statistics show that the most rural parts of England continue to have lower availability of decent, superfast and gigabit-capable broadband than the rest of the country.

Mobile coverage also remains a concern. In majority rural parliamentary constituencies, 22% of premises were not covered by a 5G signal outdoors, compared with just over 2% in urban areas outside London. Around 2% of rural land also had no 4G coverage from any mobile operator, compared with around 0.2% in urban areas.

There has been progress. More than 99% of rural premises can access at least a basic broadband connection, while Government investment is continuing to extend faster connections into harder-to-reach areas.

However, the figures show that rural communities are still more likely to experience gaps in both broadband and mobile coverage. This matters because poor connectivity can make it harder for people to work from home, access online services, run a business or stay connected with family and friends.

Interestingly, home working is more common in rural areas, with 35% of the rural working population working from home, compared with 30% in urban areas. Reliable connectivity is therefore particularly important to rural economies and communities.

The Rural Services Network (RSN) continues to highlight the importance of improving digital connectivity in rural areas, arguing that reliable digital infrastructure is essential to ensuring rural communities can access services and benefit from economic opportunities.

For rural communities, good digital connectivity is no longer a luxury. It is an important part of the infrastructure needed to live, work and thrive.