Farmers Left Behind in UK’s Rural Broadband Push, NFU Warns
Farmers in rural areas are falling through the cracks in the UK’s digital infrastructure drive, with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) warning that the cost of installing full fibre broadband is sidelining agriculture communities.
According to Andrew Critchlow, NFU’s Derbyshire representative, fast and reliable internet has become essential for modern farming operations. However, a 2023 NFU study found that only 34% of farmers had access to full fibre broadband, compared to 57% of homes nationally.
One Farmer’s Struggle
Graham Locker, who owns a farm in Boylestone near Ashbourne, said his connection has worsened over the past three years. Despite trying since 2019 to get full fibre, his farm remains unconnected.
“If they could come and put some full fibre cabling into the farm from the top of the lane and connect the house, I would be very happy,” he said.
Locker also noted that farming has increasingly moved online, with digital paperwork becoming a growing part of daily operations. He explored satellite internet options, but found them too expensive.
Why Farmers Are Missing Out
Full fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables instead of older copper lines. This requires individual trenching to each building—a process far costlier in remote rural areas than in towns.
“It’s not cost-effective for telecoms to connect one farm at a time. That’s why these properties are often dropped from rollout plans,” said Critchlow.
Provider and Government Response
Openreach, the UK’s largest broadband infrastructure company, said it had brought full fibre to over 339,000 properties in Derbyshire so far.
“We know there’s more work to do, and we understand it’s frustrating for properties not yet included in our plans,” a spokesperson said.
The company is partnering with Digital Derbyshire and the UK government to expand coverage further.
The Bigger Picture
Nationally, Ofcom is working with telecom companies to modernize the UK’s phone network, with all landlines expected to shift to broadband-based systems by January 2027.
However, unless efforts are made to include isolated rural properties, critics warn the digital divide will only grow, leaving farmers and rural economies behind.
