Expanding Rural Connectivity

In June 2023, I was appointed as the Government’s Rural Connectivity Champion, tasked with supporting rural communities and businesses in expanding their connectivity, improving their resilience and increasing productivity.

This was an issue very close to my heart, and I took the opportunity to meet with dozens of organisations from fixed to wireless providers, civil servants, as well as consumer advocacy groups, rural organisations, to understand how - despite enormous progress having already been made - we could accelerate delivery to those parts of the UK who were missing out.

I submitted an interim report in September 2023, putting forward a wide range of proposals that would bring DEFRA, DSIT, Local Government and others together to improve delivery to the most rural areas at speed.

A second round of meetings with internet providers, civil servants and advocacy groups followed, and I tidied up my report - submitting it to Ministers in March 2024. This was due to be officially launched in July with the Secretary of State taking a number of the proposals forward formally. Sadly the election got in the way and the rest is history…

I do hope that the new Government picks up on at least some of my proposals for the benefit of rural communities - this isn’t just about unlocking growth or productivity, as important as that may be, but rather about empowering rural communities to have the same opportunities afforded to people everywhere else in the world and to not be left behind. If we want rural communities to thrive then we have to empower them to do so.

You can read my full report by clicking on the image below.