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Enhanced broadband access as a solution to the social and economic problems of the rural digital divide

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  • Leanne Townsend
  • Arjuna Sathiaseelan
  • Gorry Fairhurst
  • Claire Wallace

Abstract

This article discusses the danger of a growing digital divide between rural and other areas. It presents broadband as increasingly necessary for the delivery of information, health, education, business, social security, public and leisure services. Access to broadband has become vital for rural communities to participate in a progressively digital economy and to overcome problems of physical and social isolation. Yet rural areas are among those most excluded from fast broadband developments. Although this is partly due to technological/economic barriers in reaching more remote locations, even where technology is available, adoption can still be low in rural areas. This article explores the problems of providing broadband in rural Britain, considers various technological approaches and concludes with key development areas for policy and government.

Suggested Citation

  • Leanne Townsend & Arjuna Sathiaseelan & Gorry Fairhurst & Claire Wallace, 2013. "Enhanced broadband access as a solution to the social and economic problems of the rural digital divide," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 28(6), pages 580-595, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:loceco:v:28:y:2013:i:6:p:580-595
    DOI: 10.1177/0269094213496974
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ovando, Catalina & Olivera, Emmanuel, 2018. "Was household internet adoption driven by the reform? Evaluation of the 2013 telecommunication reform in Mexico," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 700-714.
    2. Navío-Marco, Julio & Pérez-Leal, Raquel & Ruiz-Gómez, Luis Manuel, 2019. "Analysis of the WiFi4EU initiative as a potential instrument to correct digital divide in rural areas in the EU," 30th European Regional ITS Conference, Helsinki 2019 205200, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    3. Ulman, Miloš & Ualiyev, N. S. & Toregozhina, M. B., 2016. "Do Digital Public Services Matter? A Comparative Study of the Czech Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 8(2), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Salemink, Koen & Strijker, Dirk, 2018. "The participation society and its inability to correct the failure of market players to deliver adequate service levels in rural areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 757-765.
    5. Kenichiro Onitsuka, 2019. "How Social Media Can Foster Social Innovation in Disadvantaged Rural Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Lelie, T. & Sadowski, B. & Brennenreadts, R. & Smits, J., 2017. "Government involvement and learning in business model experimentation: NGA deployment in rural areas in the Netherlands," 28th European Regional ITS Conference, Passau 2017 169479, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    7. Jaume Benseny & Juuso Toyli & Heikki Hammainen & Andr'es Arcia-Moret, 2019. "The mitigating role of regulation on the concentric patterns of broadband diffusion. The case of Finland," Papers 1905.03002, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2020.
    8. Gerli, Paolo & Wainwright, David & Whalley, Jason, 2017. "Infrastructure investment on the margins of the market: The role of niche infrastructure providers in the UK," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(9), pages 743-756.

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