皇家华人

NFU survey shows rural connectivity still falling short as farmers call for urgent action

18 July 2025

NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos standing in front of a pylon

The latest NFU Digital Access Survey1 reveals that rural broadband and mobile coverage still falls short of what British farming businesses need 鈥� with over a fifth of respondents unable to access even a 鈥榙ecent鈥� internet speed.

Key findings include:

  • 21% of respondents have broadband speeds under 10Mbps 鈥� compared to the national average of less than 1%2.
  • Only 22% report reliable mobile signal across their entire farm.
  • Nearly one out of ten respondents have no 4G or 5G access.
  • Just 33% have access to fibre broadband 鈥� significantly below the UK average of 57%.
  • Nearly all respondents say mobile signal (98%) and broadband (91%) are important for their business

These figures come amid government delays to key rural connectivity targets3. The deadline for gigabit capable broadband and nationwide 5G coverage has been pushed back from 2030 to 2032, and while the Shared Rural Network remains on track for completion by the end of 2025, full rollout and operator compliance is not expected until 2027. 皇家华人warns these substantial waits risk leaving farming families and rural communities cut off from vital services, especially as the government moves ahead with plans to switch all landlines to digital by 2027 鈥� a major change that relies on strong broadband and mobile infrastructure.

There are some signs of progress: ultrafast broadband access is rising, now reaching 12% of respondents, and more farmers are embracing agri-tech tools such as cloud-based services and GPS.

皇家华人is calling on government to4:

  1. Prioritise completing the Shared Rural Network to ensure all rural communities get reliable mobile signal while fibre rollout continues.
  2. Support all broadband technologies 鈥� not just fibre 鈥� to bring cost-effective alternatives like fixed wireless or mobile broadband to rural and hard-to-reach areas.
  3. Provide rural-specific digital skills training within national programmes.

NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: 鈥淲e have been consistently told by government that food security is national security, but to deliver on that farmers need the right tools.

鈥淩eliable broadband and mobile coverage are not optional 鈥� they are essential for running efficient, productive farming businesses and ensuring safety in some of the most isolated parts of the country. If a farmer can鈥檛 call for help in an emergency, the consequences can be serious.

鈥淩ight now, poor connectivity is holding back the full potential of British farming. We welcome the government鈥檚 investment announced in the Spending Review, but these delays risk leaving rural farms disconnected for longer.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 about asking for special treatment. It鈥檚 about fairness. Rural businesses, families and communities deserve the same opportunities as everyone else 鈥� and that starts with being properly connected.鈥�

Notes to editors

  1. The NFU 2024 Digital Access Survey ran in February-March 2025 and received responses from 661 members.
  2. Ofcom defines 鈥榙ecent鈥� broadband as a download speed of at least 10Mbps.
  3. The 2025 Comprehensive Spending Review confirmed government funding of 拢1.9 billion to support rural digital infrastructure, extending the Shared Rural Network completion target to 2027 and shifting the nationwide gigabit broadband and 5G rollout deadline to 2032.
  4. Read more about the NFU鈥檚 digital access asks in our Blueprints for Growth: Investment and Innovation.