UK Government does not understand digital divide – committee report

A UK parliamentary committee has unveiled a report that suggests while rural connectivity is improving, it is still not keeping pace with the urban environments.

The report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has suggested the digital divide is persistent. Steps forward have been made though the committee does not believe the Government has fully grasped the extent of the problem, the scale of the challenge, or the wider cost of poor connectivity for the rural economy.

“Despite improvements in coverage since our predecessor’s Report, our inquiry has shown that poor broadband and mobile data services continue to marginalise rural communities, particularly those living in hard to reach areas,” said Neil Parish, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

“Digital connectivity is now regarded by many as an essential utility, with many in rural areas struggling to live a modern lifestyle without it. There continues to be a lot of frustration felt by those living or working in rural areas– and rightly so.”

While the committee has conceded positive steps have been made by the Government is recognising the challenge, Parish does not feel it fully grasps the depth and breadth of the challenge.

“However, the Committee is not confident that the Government has fully grasped the scale of the challenge currently faced and is sceptical as to whether the Government will meet these ambitious new targets without considerable and potentially controversial reforms,” Parish said.

The Government has of course set very ambitious targets to close the digital divide, though it does appear the action plan to meet these targets has not been set in place. If the gains are only being dwarfed by progress in the cities, is this is a genuine solution?

Although it might sound like a first-world problem, the idea of connectivity should no longer be seen as a luxury; it is a fundamental part of the UK’s society.

This is the attitude some will take. You can’t get fast enough broadband, so outside and kick a ball instead of watching Netflix. However, if you consider many banks are now taking a digital-first approach, closing smaller branches in the countryside, connectivity becomes critical. At risk patients no-longer have to be limited to a ward if they can be effectively monitored at home. Agriculture can be revolutionised with technology also. There are certainly more benefits than simply removing buffering.

Another interesting element to this argument, aside from empowering businesses outside the major towns and cities, is the impact on well-being.

This is a very important aspect on improved connectivity and an element of the evolution of many forward-looking businesses. Trends are moving towards a flexible-working relationship between the employee and employer, with more companies being open to work-from-home environments. It improves the happiness of the employee, potentially increasing retention, and also allows the company to access new talent.

However, it does depend on consistent, reliable connectivity throughout the country.

Interesting enough, a sluggish approach to the broadband challenge could also have an impact on the fast-growing mobile economy, bolstered by the emergence of 5G.

“With 5G on its way, it is also crucial to ensure the background infrastructure (the fibre highway) is in place, using techniques such as fibre cabling directly to the outdoor antennas, combining fibre with power to the huge number of new ‘small cells” that will be required and leveraging existing fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) construction to add in extra 5G connection points along the way,” said Phil Sorsky, VP of the international business at CommScope.

The digital divide might not be as apparent in the UK as it is elsewhere, though it is still a persistent problem for British citizens. BoJo’s target of full-fibre coverage by 2025 might sound good, however it does appear there is a lack of thinking behind the execution of the strategy.