In the hustle and bustle of the Digital Britain report, which highlighted the fact that many rural areas in the UK are “behind the broadband curve”, many people have overlooked the fact that slow broadband speeds could seriously undermine the development of some areas of the UK. Despite the fact that generally slow broadband speeds, whether delivered by landline or mobile providers, will impact on business there are concerns that some areas of the UK could miss out on the development of Internet TV.
However, when you also consider that some areas of the UK have yet to receive Channel 5 this may not come as too much of a surprise!
While the Internet is seen as the natural provider of future media and TV content the slow speeds which will be available in rural areas of the UK may not facilitate such a service and could be detrimental to local communities and local economies.
Despite the fact that the UK government has promised to plough in tens of millions of pounds to ensure broadband connectivity across the UK there are concerns about the level of service which may be available in the countryside. An investment in rural broadband services may “tick the boxes” but will it actually deliver what people need and what people want?