Rural Areas Lead on UK Broadband

Ofcom’s regional communications market report has revealed that rural households are more likely to have broadband than the residents of towns. The surprising results indicated that 59 per cent of rural households had broadband services, while only 57 per cent of urban homes did.

This report is the first time that the country has overtaken the town in having access to broadband. Indeed, just four years ago, those who lived in urban areas were twice as likely to have a broadband connection when compared to those in the country.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said of the findings: “Our report highlights a closing of the geographical digital divide in the UK. Rural households are today as well connected to broadband as their urban neighbours.”

In addition to these findings, the report also showed large differences in the take-up of modern communications across the UK. Indeed, it appears that Sunderland is the most connected city in the UK, with 66 per cent of households using broadband and a massive 96 per cent having digital television. Meanwhile, Glasgow has the lowest take-up of broadband in the UK at just 32 per cent.

While Ofcom could not explain why Sunderland has the highest uptake of broadband in the UK, it attributed Glasgow's position at the bottom of the table to low levels of income and computer ownership. Broadband was far more popular in other areas of Scotland, including the remote Highlands and Islands, which has broadband in 62 per cent of homes, and Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee, which all boast broadband rates that are higher than the UK average. The high rate of broadband access in the more remote areas of Scotland can be attributed to a major drive that attempted to bring broadband to every corner of Scotland. This drive was created in order to sustain the economies of these isolated communities, as many residents in these areas can now work from home.

Source:

BBC