Farmers have said they would like to see further details on superfast broadband plans in the Chancellor's spring budget announcement tomorrow.
In December last year, the government announced plans to bring superfast broadband to some of the country's most remote communities.
Now, internet speeds are set to improve for millions as part of a major push by ministers to roll out 'super fast' 5G mobile phone coverage.
But last October, the NFU said the current rural broadband roll-out is 'not sufficient' to meet the needs of most farmers.
"I employ four people and in 50% of the farm we can’t get in contact with each other over the mobile," said one farmer.
"We sometimes have no connection, but on average have between 0.3 and 0.6 Mbps.
"Our biggest hurdle is not being able to attract potential tenants to our converted sheds to offices, as the connection is too weak," said another respondent.
Tim Jones, head of rural at Carter Jonas said: "The benefits would be significant enabling businesses in remote parts of the country to compete with their urban counterparts."
Economic prosperity
The plans are part of a £1 billion investment in research and development.
Mr Jones said 'levelling the playing field' between more accessible rural areas and those that are currently less connected will spread economic prosperity.
Ian Liddell-Grainger, the Tory MP who chairs a parliamentary rural broadband group, told the Telegraph: "Every party in the UK has been saying this needs to be rolled out as fast as possible. It is hugely important and absolutely vital.
"The percentage of people who now work at home in rural areas is going up massively. Small businesses nowadays have to have high-speed broadband. You can’t run a business without it."
The government is expected to offer incentives to invest in full-fiber networks by offering vouchers to local businesses to encourage take-up where new networks are built and upgrading connections to public buildings, such as schools and hospitals.
'Major breakthrough'
CLA Deputy President Tim Breitmeyer said: "The Government’s commitment to a broadband universal service obligation was a major breakthrough for those of us who have campaigned for an end to the discrimination felt by those that live and work in the countryside.
"The day this legal right to a superfast broadband connection becomes law cannot come a day too soon and we support the MPs’ challenge to government to see if it can be brought in earlier than the current target of end of 2020.
"MPs have challenged Government and BT to rethink their longstanding strategy of targeting the easiest to reach premises first and their reliance on the existing copper wire network rather than fibre-optic, mobile or other wireless connection methods.
"MPs are right to point out the risks of this strategy in failing to end the digital divide between our towns and countryside.
"Rural communities and small alternative providers need immediate clarity from Openreach as to the extent of their roll-out plans for fibre, so that other solutions can be chosen if required."
'Cut costs'
The NFU said there are social, economic and environmental benefits' of connecting the final 5%, especially for the delivery of a sustainable and productive agricultural sector.
The group said: "We need to be able to use the technology to farm more efficiently to meet the needs of our growing population and compete in the international markets.
"Farmers with poor connectivity cannot use the full range of agricultural technology.
"They spend time traveling back and forth to signal hot-spots and have to outsource their management of online finance and regulatory systems.
"Online compliance can cuts costs for both the government and farmers."
