NFU members are encouraged to take part to help identify the challenges and opportunities around securing better connectivity for digital technology on farm.
It will only take 10 minutes to complete.
Slow speeds and lack of signal
Reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury for farm businesses – it underpins everything from livestock traceability to online grant applications.
Yet for too many rural communities, slow broadband speeds and persistent poor mobile connectivity continue to inhibit on-farm operations, leading to farmers missing out on the opportunities to expand their businesses, increasing profits and diversifying into new technologies.
The results of our last survey found that rural broadband and mobile coverage continues to fall short of what farming businesses need – with over a fifth of respondents still unable to access even a ‘decent’ internet speed.
Farmers are often left in an ‘offline corner’ with poor connectivity and unreliable mobile connections hampering even basic activities on farms. Calling a vet, speaking to a supplier or even answering business emails becomes far more challenging than it needs to be.
Many farmers struggle to make even a phone call due to lack of signal, with last year's results finding that only 22% of respondents were able to get a reliable mobile signal in all outdoor locations on farm.
Taking our survey will help ensure we can best represent your connectivity needs to the government, especially as the digital by default services expand into rural areas.
