Four in 10 UK Farmers Have Slow, Unreliable Broadband

By Farming UK

More than four in 10 farmers still do not have access to fast and reliable broadband in order to run a modern-day farming business, according to Farming UK, in response to a new study. The NFU’s 2020 Digital Technology report, based on a snapshot of 430 farmers, highlights ongoing division between rural and urban connectivity.

It shows that more than 40% of farms across the UK experience sluggish broadband speeds, hampering business growth. It comes as the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates farmers’ frustration with the situation, as the rest of society moves to virtual meetings and remote learning.

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts said modern farming relied on fast and reliable internet access, particularly during a time of great change. “For too long, those living and working in the countryside have been dealt a poor hand when it comes to digital connectivity; waiting for improvements which never seem to arrive,” he said. “It is completely unacceptable that in this digital age we have a two-tier system of haves and have nots – particularly at a time when communication has become even more important.”

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