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Rural Digital Connectivity
BT have announced that they are temporarily pausing all non-voluntary, managed migrations to a digital landline where there is any risk that the customer’s telecare service will not continue to work. In a blog on their website BT say:...
Research by USWITCH finds that 4 out of 5 Brits are unaware that their Christmas decorations could interrupt their broadband signal in the home and affect Wifi speed. Classic Christmas decorations such as fairy lights, tinsel and even the...
The Chair of the APPG for Rural Services, Derek Thomas MP, sponsored a Westminster Hall Debate on 5th December focusing on loneliness and isolation in elderly and vulnerable people. A number of issues were raised which highlight the challenges...
The challenges facing rural areas have been repeatedly debated in Parliament this week. Alongside Chris Loder MP’s debate on funding for rural councils ( read what happened here ), Sarah Dyke MP (Somerton & Frome, Lib Dem) used her first...
The government has announced that thousands of people across rural parts of Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire are set to benefit from new lightning-fast broadband. Around 10,000 homes and businesses in rural Oxfordshire communities including Stoke Row, Somerton and...
A community in Mortehoe in North Devon has pulled together to upgrade its broadband connection and improve its environment by removing telegraph poles. The project has taken 3 years to complete and brought together BT Openreach and National Grid...
This month the head of Vodafone UK has written to the Business and Trade Committee to reaffirm the company’s commitment to the Shared Rural Network. In his letter to the committee, Andrea Dona, the Chief Network Officer for Vodafone...
MPs and industry leaders have been discussing the challenges facing the roll out of Project Gigabit and superfast broadband across the UK. Chair of the APPG Digital Communications, Selaine Saxby MP (Con, North Devon) led a roundtable discussion last...
The government’s proposed Media Bill will receive its Second reading in the House of Commons today (Tuesday 21 November 2023). The Bill represents the biggest update to media regulation in a generation and will shape the future of TV and...
A new study has been published by the mobile operator, Vodaphone UK, which reveals the gap between urban and rural areas is growing when it comes to reliable connectivity. The report, ‘ Connecting the Countryside ’ was commissioned by Vodafone...
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Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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