Rural connectivity still

lags behind that of urban areas

The ongoing disparity between rural and urban in terms of digital connectivity continues to have an impact on both households and businesses.

New government figures show that just over 70 per cent of rural people have access to superfast broadband in 2026, compared with more than 92 per cent in urban areas.

The digital connectivity gap also remains when looking at slower broadband speeds.

In rural parts, 98 per cent of properties were deemed to have a decent internet connection, with the proportion dropping to just 96 per cent in more remote villages and hamlets.

However, the score in urban areas was closer to 100 per cent than it was 99, showing that towns and cities generally have a near-perfect access to the internet.

And with the latest statistics also showing home working to be more common in rural areas than in urban – 35 per cent compared to 30 per cent – the need for more genuinely reliable connections has never been greater.

It’s an issue Network members are all too familiar with, as colleagues previously singled out communications connectivity as one of the top five challenges being faced by rural communities today.

Work continues at ACRE to raise the issue with policymakers and those in a position of power, with these latest figures only adding to the ongoing and very real need for change.

More information can be found at www.gov.uk/environment/rural-and-countryside.