New report finds rural areas still enduring slow broadband
New report finds rural areas still enduring slow broadband
Firms based in the countryside are too often having to cope with slow broadband connections, according to a new survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
The FSB surveyed some 3,000 business owners in rural locations and found that 63 per cent said they were not satisfied with the speed of their broadband. This is compared with 48 per cent of firms in urban locations.
The survey also found that it was not just speed that bothered rural businesses and that a quarter weren’t happy with the cost of their connection and a third found their service unreliable.
Although the government claims it is intent on improving access for rural broadband users, the FSB claims the current plans do not go far enough. The organisation’s report stated that speeds of 20 Mbps are needed in 98 per cent of rural communities and that this should form the centre of the government’s plans for superfast broadband. Currently the government is planning to create ten super-connected cities, which could leave rural areas languishing in slow broadband zones for years to come.
The FSB’s chairman, John Walker, explained, “These figures show that firms are still unable to access basic broadband to run their business effectively. With the technology we have today all firms should be able to trade overseas, throughout the UK and from town to village.
“It is imperative the Government takes action to close the digital divide between urban and rural businesses.”
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