What Are the Main Challenges of Providing Broadband in Rural Areas?

Geographical difficulties

Compared to towns and cities, installing broadband in rural areas can be quite a challenge. With all the rolling hills, thick wooded areas, and coastal cliffsides in the way, getting fibre-optic cables where they need to be requires a lot of planning and logistics. As the terrain and layout of rural areas can slow things down a lot, it often means more time and money are needed to get things up and running.

Limited existing infrastructure

Did you know that the majority of rural communities still rely on old copper networks? These networks are designed for telecomms, not necessarily the complex and heightened requirements of today’s internet use. However, this narrative is changing thanks to the big copper switch-off. By upgrading the current infrastructure to Full Fibre rural broadband, communities will benefit from enhanced speed and reliability. The issue for a lot of rural areas is that this will take time, as new cables will need to be laid to support Full Fibre.

Lower populations

It’s much easier to implement updated or brand-new broadband infrastructure in areas such as cities, with many people packed into smaller areas. However, in rural areas with fewer people that are spread out over larger areas, it can be a challenge to convince traditional internet providers or local councils to invest. That’s not the case with Wildanet. We’re on a constant mission to provide top-quality rural broadband service in underserved areas, no matter how many people call it home.

Discover Wildanet’s high-speed rural broadband 

Despite all of these challenges, Wildanet is dedicated and committed to improving broadband access across rural areas in Cornwall, Devon, and the South West. With government-backed funding, the most cutting-edge broadband technology, and a passionate local team, we're working to close the digital divide. 

Do you want to learn more about how Wildanet can improve your broadband experience? Use our postcode checker to find out if rural broadband is available in your area at the moment!