Rural Affairs

Broadband

Cover of the joint D T i / Defra Broadband toolkit document

Broadband has the potential to benefit many areas of our lives – at work, at home and in the community.

Improving broadband access across the whole of the UK, especially in rural areas, is one of the Government’s top priorities. Over the past few years there has been enormous progress towards providing access to affordable broadband to every community in England from a competitive market. Despite this, Defra recognise that there is still more to do to make broadband available in all parts of the country.

On the ground local and regional initiatives involving Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Regional Development Agencies in England, Local Authorities with other partners are helping many businesses and communities to take advantage of the benefits of broadband. Among the many good examples of these initiatives is www.switchonshropshire.org.uk

Anyone interested in the benefits broadband internet access provides can try it out for themselves at any of the 6,000 “UK Online” centres; many local libraries also offer the chance to use the internet for free, and you can learn about using computers and the internet at Learndirect Centres around the country.

The broadband section on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) website provides access to facts and figures and market reports.

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What is broadband?

Cover of the joint D T i / Defra Broadband CD Rom
Help bring broadband
to your community

Broadband makes the internet a more satisfying experience, with less waiting and more surfing. Broadband services, whether delivered over the telephone line, cable, satellite or terrestrial radio antenna or third generation mobile telephone, have the potential to enhance productivity, competitiveness and open new markets. For example, broadband enables delivery of new/telephone calls (using voice-over-internet-protocol - VOIP) and video on demand services.

The BERR / Defra Broadband team have produced a booklet 'Help bring broadband to your community'. The team has also pulled together over 450 case studies to help communities and businesses understand the issues surrounding broadband, these case studies can be viewed on a CD rom or on the Broadband Case study website.

The booklet can be downloaded from the BERR website [Click to download Adobe Acrobat Reader] [500KB] or ordered from the DTI publications department on 0870 150 2500, quoting "URN 03/1393"

The case study CD rom can be ordered on the above number quoting "URN 05/CD1

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Benefits of broadband - Business

A fast, ‘always-on’ internet connection provides real advantages to individuals, but broadband comes into its own when used with business applications. These provide new ways to cut costs, win new business and keep ahead of the competition.

Online meetings can reduce travel, people can work from home and external contractors can be used and managed more effectively.

A permanent connection opens up your business to the world. Not only can you support customers virtually anywhere, you can also market your services to a much wider audience across the internet. The same is true for supply chains, allowing business processes to be speeded up and delivery times reduced. For many corporations this has become essential, some already expect their suppliers to support online invoicing and payments, as a minimum.

Customers can be kept up to date with the latest information, prices or new services. It also enables cheaper, safer and less intrusive remote IT support (offsite), alongside access to new, affordable software.

Sources of advice for business:

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Benefits of broadband – Community

The simplest advantage is in overcoming the barrier of distance. Broadband allows people to get in touch no matter where they are located. There is no need for a person or business to feel isolated just because they are cut off by their location or abilities. E-mail, instant messaging and webcams provide opportunities to contact and communicate with likeminded people in the next village or on the other side of the world. The internet offers a wide range of opportunities for local communities to support themselves, and charities to offer their services more effectively.

ICT in England’s Rural Economies
This research has looked at the adoption and impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and broadband in England’s rural areas.

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Connecting the UK: the Digital Strategy

‘Connecting the UK: the Digital Strategy’, was launched on 1 April 2005.

The underlying vision on which the strategy is based is the importance of the UK being a country at ease in the digital world. Where all have the confidence to access the new and innovative services that are emerging, whether delivered by computer, mobile phone, digital television or any other device, and where we can do so in a safe and secure environment.

The paper identifies seven key action areas to deliver this vision:

  • Transform learning with ICT
  • Set up a digital strategy for local authorities
  • Make the UK the safest place to use the internet
  • Promote the creation of innovative broadband content
  • Set out a strategy for the transformation of the delivery of public services
  • Ask Ofcom to consider how the regulatory framework can be used to improve competition and take-up in the broadband market.
  • Improve accessibility for the digitally excluded and ease of use for the disabled.

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Page last modified: 21 November, 2007
Page published: 7 April, 2004

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs