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Why is rural broadband still not fit for purpose?

<span>Photograph: Jeff Holmes JSHPIX/Rex/Shutterstock</span>
Photograph: Jeff Holmes JSHPIX/Rex/Shutterstock

The focus seems to be on upgrading internet speeds in urban areas, while rural locations struggle, says Richard Harris


I live in a small village about two miles from a large town that has high-speed broadband. My experience mirrors your report (19 January) that local governments focus extensively on easy-to-reach urban areas. Money was spent to improve areas that already had high speeds, just from a rival provider.

The local project was wound up. Our village was left stuck in the slow lane of 2Mbps speeds. Luckily, a conversation with our local councillor helped resolve this and the village now has a high-speed fibre network.

Given the difference this has made to home schooling and home working, I am deeply frustrated that lessons are being ignored and rural locations are being left behind. We seem to be lining the pockets of the private sector to provide improved services to properties that already benefit from high speeds. Perhaps those in government should attempt to work and study on such slow and unstable connections to understand how frustrating and unfit for purpose rural broadband is.
Richard Harris
Stanton-on-the-Wolds, Nottinghamshire

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