Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Twitter LinkedIn
    • FREE Email Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    Twitter LinkedIn
    Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    • News
      • Arable & Agronomy
      • Dealership News
      • Environmental Land Management Scheme/Policy
      • Event News
      • Health & Safety
      • Machinery
      • People
      • World News
    • Farm Machinery
      • Amenity & Maintenance
      • Cultivations
      • Drilling
      • Grassland Equipment
      • Harvesting
      • Muck & Slurry
      • Sprayers
      • Telehandlers
      • Tractors
      • Tractor of the Year
      • Tyres & Tracks
      • Whatever happened to?
    • Precision Farming
    • Markets & Policy
    • Profiles
      • National Arable and Grassland Awards
      • Company Profiles
      • Reader Profiles
    • Livestock
      • Beef
      • Dairy
      • Sheep
    • Magazines
      1. September 2025 issue
      2. August 2025 issue
      3. 2025 Drills and Seeds supplement
      4. July 2025 issue
      5. June 2025 issue
      6. Cereals event guide 2025
      7. May 2025 issue
      8. April 2025 issue
      9. March 2025 issue
      10. 2025 Tyre Developments supplement
      11. February 2025 issue
      12. National Arable and Grassland Awards supplement
      13. January 2025 issue
      14. December 2024 issue
      15. November 2024 issue
      16. October 2024 issue
      17. September 2024 issue
      18. August 2024 Issue
      19. 2024 Drills and Seeds supplement
      20. July 2024 Issue
      21. Cereals Supplement
      22. June 2024 Issue
      23. May 2024 Issue
      24. April 2024 Issue
      25. Tyres and Tracks Supplement
      26. March 2024 Issue
      27. National Arable & Grassland Award – Meet the Finalists
      28. February 2024 Issue
      29. January 2024 Issue
      30. December 2023
      31. Agritechnica Preview Supplement
      32. November 2023
      33. October 2023
      Featured

      September 2025 issue available now

      By Matthew TiltSeptember 1, 2025
      Recent

      September 2025 issue available now

      September 1, 2025

      August 2025 issue available now

      August 1, 2025

      2025 Drills and Seeds supplement available now

      August 1, 2025
    • Events
    • Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    People

    Rural connectivity still falling short

    Matthew TiltBy Matthew TiltJuly 23, 20252 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    AdobeStock

    The latest NFU Digital Access Survey has revealed that rural broadband and mobile coverage falls short of what businesses require.

    Key findings from the survey include:

    • 21% of respondents have broadband speeds under 10Mbps – compared to the national average of less than 1%.
    • Only 22% report reliable mobile signal across their entire farm.
    • Nearly one out of ten respondents have no 4G or 5G access.
    • Just 33% have access to fibre broadband – significantly below the UK average of 57%.
    • Nearly all respondents say mobile signal (98%) and broadband (91%) are important for their business.

    The results come as the deadlines for gigabit-capable broadband and full 5G coverage have been pushed back from 2030 to 2032. The NFU adds that while the Shared Rural Network remains on track for completion by the end of this year, the full rollout is not expected until 2027. If the government moves ahead with plans to switch all landlines to digital networks by 2027, this could cutoff farming families and rural communities.

    The NFU is now calling on government to prioritise completion of the Shared Rural Network, as well as support all broadband technologies, and provide rural-specific digital skills training.

    NFU vice president Rachel Hallos said: “We have been consistently told by government that food security is national security, but to deliver on that farmers need the right tools.

    “Reliable broadband and mobile coverage are not optional – they are essential for running efficient, productive farming businesses and ensuring safety in some of the most isolated parts of the country. If a farmer can’t call for help in an emergency, the consequences can be serious.”

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Previous ArticleKuhn looks to the future and revamps grass kit
    Next Article ADAS to close Yield Enhancement Network for cereals and oilseeds
    Matthew Tilt
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Machinery editor for Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer. Matt has worked as an agricultural machinery journalist for five years, following time spent in his family’s Worcestershire contracting business. When he’s not driving or writing about the latest farm equipment, he can be found in his local cinema, or with his headphones in, reading a good book.

    Read Similar Stories

    We Are Land-based Engineering announces Technician of the Year

    August 25, 2025

    Entry deadline looms for National Arable and Grassland Awards

    August 6, 2025

    Widespread impact of extreme weather revealed in survey

    July 7, 2025
    Most Read Stories

    Pöttinger introduces new silage additive tank

    September 2, 2025

    Samson adds new entry-level TG slurry tanker

    September 2, 2025

    John Deere extends parts solutions

    September 2, 2025
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

    The UK's leading agricultural machinery journal

    Twitter LinkedIn
    © 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

    Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

    • Farmers Weekly
    • AA Farmer
    • Poultry News
    • Pig World

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.