Research shows that rural communities are falling behind due to poor digital infrastructure

In an era where businesses and households depend upon the Internet for the whole lot from marketing to banking and shopping, the dearth of adequate digital access generally is a serious obstacle. And our latest research shows that loads houses AND business within the UK are left to fend for themselves within the digital age.

Our two studies focused on the rural county in Wales, Ceredigion, where an absence of reliable digital infrastructure has worsened the impact of the pandemic on families and businesses. Poor digital accessibility and poor connectivity have increased stress levels for families who already had to juggle home learning and dealing from home.

Similarly, firms have had to grapple with issues related to web access, the provision of effective digital infrastructure and digital proficiency when working and doing business from home.

Our study included two online surveys. One focused on households and the opposite on businesses and the self-employed between April and June 2021. The survey questions aimed to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic.

Several essential themes emerged within the responses we received from each surveys. These aspects included insufficient digital accessibility and connectivity, lack of digital skills and training opportunities, and the prices of broadband and mobile access.

Home experiences

Our research found that 12% of homes didn’t have enough digital equipment to meet their needs throughout the pandemic, and 76% of those included children learning from home. Schools and a few workplaces provided equipment in some cases, but 18% of households had to rent equipment.

Despite this borrowing option, many homes have had to connect equipment between adults working from home and youngsters learning online. Many students used small mobile devices to access lessons, while others lacked access to equipment resembling printers.

These problems were exacerbated in rural and distant areas, where slow broadband speeds and lack of a reliable mobile signal were identified as the most important problems. Other issues included the price of broadband and mobile access, lack of digital skills or training opportunities to improve digital skills, poor customer support from broadband providers and connectivity issues.

Business and self-employment experience

The pandemic has presented similar challenges to businesses. The closure of non-essential businesses throughout the pandemic has led to: growth in e-commerce. Companies that were able to start selling online were able to proceed operating despite lockdowns and restrictions.

However, firms that were slow to adopt e-commerce or lacked the vital infrastructure struggled to adapt. In fact, our research found that 47% of firms experienced difficulties with digital access and connectivity throughout the pandemic. Other problems that firms face include:

• lack of reliable broadband or mobile connection (37%)

• low broadband speed (29%)

• weak cell signal (26%)

• lack of digital skills or access to training programs (16%)

• access cost (13%)

People working from home in rural areas also faced problems due to lack of digital infrastructure, poor connectivity and lack of digital skills.

Filling the gap

In the long run, increased reliance on online work, education and public services resembling online health and social care will probably be much more detrimental to people without adequate web access. The digital divide between individuals with higher and lower incomes is widening.

An example was higher income households more probable have access to technology for homeschooling and distant work throughout the pandemic, unlike those with lower incomes.

The gap in access to digital technologies is usually determined by location. Remote and sparsely populated areas often lack adequate broadband and mobile signal coverage. Closing this digital divide is crucial for economic growth, social inclusion and access to basic services.

To address the digital divide, UK and devolved governments must spend money on digital infrastructure in rural areas to ensure at the least minimum quality coverage all over the place. Local authorities could introduce programs to enable people to gain access to cost-effective computing devices and web access.

Enhancing digital skills and empowering businesses in rural areas can be key. Strengthening digital skills training would higher prepare future generations for a digital world.

Additionally, businesses in rural areas need tailored support resembling funding for digital infrastructure upgrades, training opportunities, and privacy and consumer protection guidelines to enable their digital and sustainable development.