A year ago UK government announced that 85% of the nation would benefit from gigabit broadband by 2025. Yet, British agriculture continues to grapple with connectivity challenges caused by inadequate broadband and mobile coverage. With the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and 3G switch offs looming, the need for more reliable rural connectivity is more […]
A year ago UK government announced that 85% of the nation would benefit from gigabit broadband by 2025. Yet, British agriculture continues to grapple with connectivity challenges caused by inadequate broadband and mobile coverage.
With the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and 3G switch offs looming, the need for more reliable rural connectivity is more pressing than ever.
Despite its vital role in the UK economy, agriculture lags in connectivity. A recent National Farmers’ Union (NFU) survey found that only 38% of farmers deemed their broadband sufficient for business needs.
Over half experienced download speeds below ten Mbps — far short of the government’s ambitious 1,000 Mbps target by 2030.
Mobile coverage tells a similar story: while 94% of farmers have some access to 4G, fewer than a quarter can reliably make or receive calls across their entire farm.
Struggle to stay connected
As the UK prepares to retire ageing connectivity systems, rural areas face unique risks. The PSTN switch-off in January 2027 will render traditional landlines obsolete, requiring internet-based alternatives like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for phone calls.
Similarly, the 3G phase-out by the end of 2025 will push farmers to adopt 4G or 5G-enabled devices. Without access to robust digital infrastructure to replace these technologies, farmers risk losing critical communication channels, which could prove dangerous in the case of accidents that require the emergency services.
Greater connectivity enables farmers to implement higher-quality security systems, such as CCTV and remote monitoring, to safeguard their operations.
With rural crime costing an estimated £49.5 million in 2022 according to NFU Mutual, enhanced security technologies are crucial.
The connectivity shortfall puts many rural businesses at a competitive disadvantage. For instance, it hinders farmers’ ability to adopt precision farming technologies powered by the Internet of Things, which enable real-time monitoring of soil conditions, weather patterns and resource usage to maximise crop yields.
Reliable broadband supports the increasingly digital nature of farming, including reporting livestock movements, completing RPA forms, and staying informed on fast-paced policy changes, ensuring farmers can adapt to evolving industry demands.
Additionally, limited connectivity creates barriers to accessing government grants, training programs and online marketplaces, curbing opportunities for innovation and business diversification.
So, how is the government tackling this growing digital divide? And what more can be done to futureproof the agricultural industry?
Steps toward progress
Efforts to modernise rural connectivity are underway, albeit at varying speeds. The government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit aims to deliver high-speed fibre broadband to remote areas, with over £1 billion already allocated.
Similarly, the Shared Rural Network (SRN) — a collaboration between Big Four operators EE, O2, Vodafone and Three — seeks to expand 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by 2025 and nationwide by 2027.
However, a National Audit Office report from early 2024 casts doubt on whether these ambitious targets will be met, citing delays in project timelines. Swift action must be taken to meet these targets and prevent rural businesses from being left with limited connectivity options.
While systemic changes are crucial, farmers can take steps to future-proof their operations. Nationwide availability of Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SoGEA) offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional broadband options such as asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ASDL).
To ensure they can continue making and receiving calls after the PSTN switch off takes place in just over two years, farmers must adopt a VoIP-based telephone system.
UK’s connectivity shortfall puts many rural businesses at risk
Openreach has discontinued the sale of copper-based telephone and broadband products for exchanges where three-quarters or more of properties can access full fibre.
Although it is unlikely that rural exchanges will be part of the stop sell, the sales slowdown has led to the halt in production of replacement parts for many PSTN-based services, complicating repairs for damaged or faulty equipment. As a result, analogue phone lines are becoming increasingly unreliable, with Ofcom data revealing a 60 per cent rise in lost service hours in 2023.
Therefore, it is essential that farmers don’t wait too long to upgrade their phone and broadband services. Providers can offer tailored solutions to help rural businesses make the transition.
Closing the rural connectivity gap will require a coordinated effort from the UK government, telecoms providers and the farming community. By investing in reliable digital infrastructure now, British farmers can safeguard their livelihoods and open new opportunities for growth, whether that’s through adopting IoT-driven technologies or participating in online government initiatives. Modern, reliable connectivity will ensure that the agricultural sector has the tools to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
