Farmers are still struggling with mobile phone coverage and access to reliable internet with many experiencing poor connection, a new survey has found.
Key issues affecting farmers, according to the NFU survey which questioned 800 farmers, is that 85% of farmers have an unreliable outdoor mobile phone signal and 82% of farmers have an unreliable indoor mobile phone signal.
The survey showed that just 6% of farmers have access to superfast download speeds.
Farmers across the country are being held back by the unreliable connections which is hitting productivity in rural areas, according to a report which described rural areas turning to 'ghost towns'.
NFU Vice President Guy Smith said that the Government 'must wake up' and make the rollout of superfast broadband to all farms a priority, alongside complete mobile phone coverage.
More than ever, farmers use digital technologies to help farm more efficiently.
He said farmers need to 'fully utilise' emerging digital technology such as robotics and GPS.
'Severe lack' of coverage
“Yet no signal for mobile phone voice or text and a severe lack of broadband coverage is creating a real barrier for those farm businesses and putting them at a disadvantage,” Mr Smith said.
“The ever-growing digital divide between urban and rural workplaces needs to be bridged. Government should recognise that, internationally, the UK is trailing behind other countries, putting our farmers at a competitive disadvantage.
“That’s why we are calling on Government to adopt a much more ambitious approach to finding ways to get fast broadband to those areas that need it most.
“This will mean ensuring there is necessary regulation in place and a competitive rural market. It is also essential to lay the foundations for an effective 5G network - universal coverage, with safe, fast and efficient systems that farmers can access to provide food and rural based services for domestic and international markets, while maintaining the countryside we all cherish, work in and visit.”
A recent government announcement of a new £400m broadband investment has been criticised for failing to benefit the countryside.
