Broadband study highlights rural connectivity issues as UK ranked 31st

Sarah Lee, head of policy, Countryside Alliance, said the figures were ‘very disappointing’.

“There needs to be more done to improve connectivity in those hard to reach places since one in five rural homes are still unable to receive speeds higher than 5mbps.

“The Government has invested significant amounts of money into connectivity but the benefits do not appear to be felt on the ground if these speeds are correct. The Countryside Alliance will continue to lobby government to make sure that communities are not hindered by their location and are on a level playing field with their urban and European neighbours.”

Lessons

Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms analyst at Cable.co.uk, said there were lessons to be learned from those above the UK in the table.

He added: “Not least the importance of reaching those with the lowest speeds, predominantly in very rural and/or hard-to-reach areas, but also greater investment in hyperfast fibre to the home (FTTH) networks, which currently reach only 2 per cent of properties in the UK, compared to Sweden or Latvia, say, where FTTH exceeds 40 per cent.”