Rural connectivity is about more than Broadband

“If Government wants good growth in every postcode, rural postcodes need to be part of the plan.”

That is the call from the Rural Services Network (RSN) which hosts its National Rural Conference 2026 this week (September 14-17), attended by the DDA.

In a six-point plan for rural prosperity in England, the RSN calls for better connectivity in rural areas, both digital and mobile, and physical, including access to healthcare and other essential services. It highlights poorer access to gigabit-capable broadband, higher transport costs and declining bus provision in rural areas, compared to urban locations. It says: “There is an opportunity to think differently about what successful rural connectivity looks like.”

Other priorities for the RSN cover:

Rural growth
Service funding
The rural cost of living
Housebuilding
A voice in decision-making

Research commissioned by the Rural Coalition costs the opportunity lost in rural areas at £50 billion annually, generating up to £19 billion in additional tax revenues.

Improvements in Broadband speed and reliability supports the operational resilience of GP surgeries by strengthening the effective use of cloud-based clinical systems, digital communication tools and remote consultation platforms. A new Government commissioned report shows it can function as a critical enabling condition for modern healthcare provision and digital infrastructure.

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