The NFU broadband and mobile phone coverage survey will be ‘open for business’ for members to complete from today, Wednesday 23 August.
With the vision of every farming business having access to superfast broadband, at affordable speeds, with coverage across all of their farms, the NFU is calling on the government to make the digital economy universal.
“We do not believe that the government is doing enough for farmers and rural communities to get connected,” said NFU vice president Guy Smith. “Our members need a plan in place to accelerate the delivery of rural services and lay the foundations for 5G services.”
The governement’s proposed broadband universal service obligation of 10Mbps, and BT’s equivalent offer for 1.4 million rural premises, is far lower in speed than urban broadband users receive now.
{pull-quote}
According to the NFU, the slower rate of 4G coverage role out is putting farmers and growers at a large disadvantage when they are trying to run innovative, profitable and sustainable businesses.
“The NFU is uniquely placed with its in-house survey team,” concluded Mr Smith. “I would encourage as many members as possible to complete this broadband and mobile survey and get their voices heard.”
Members have five weeks to participate in either a telephone survey or the online survey can be accessed here.
