Farming is a business and just like any other industry, farmers require fast and stable Internet to run their operations both efficiently and competitively.
Modern agriculture makes use of tools like GPS-guided tractors, real-time weather monitoring and online livestock auctions – all of which require connectivity.
Unfortunately, rural connectivity in the UK has always been a significant amount of steps behind compare to urban areas. This is largely due to patchy coverage and remote terrain that make it difficult to access.
However, a new wave of broadband providers specialising in rural connectivity are stepping in to change the narrative.
5 Rural Broadband Providers Supporting Farms And Agribusiness
From full-fibre rollouts to satellite solutions across communities in the countryside, here are 5 broadband providers who are supporting farms and agribusiness across the UK.
1. Gigaclear
Gigaclear is a broadband provider on a mission to bring full-fibre broadband to rural communities previously overlooked by bigger telecom operators. Instead of using part-copper networks, the company installs pure fibre connections directly to properties.
The company works with government-backed rural broadband programmes to enable the necessary infrastructure to be built in areas that would otherwise be very limited.
Key Features:
- Full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).
- Business-grade broadband packages.
- Ultrafast speeds of up to 1Gbps and beyond.
- Scalable infrastructure for growing agritech demands.
2. Broadband For The Rural North
Operating primarily in Northern England, B4RN is a community-owned broadband provider, partnering directly with farmers, residents and landowners in order to build gigabit-capable fibre networks.
Instead of waiting for large telecom companies to invest, which can take a lot of time or not even happen at all, communities fund the fibre installation themselves. As a result, they have been able to reach areas that would have been completely digitally isolated.
Key Features:
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds of 1Gbps.
- Direct fibre laid across rural landscapes.
- Transparent, flat-rate pricing.
- Community owned and not-for-profit structure.
3. Bigblu Broadband
Bigblu Broadband specialises in connecting the areas that fibre usually can’t reach through satellite broadband. Using satellite technology, they are able to deliver Internet directly to a dish which is installed on the property itself.
This means that there is no need for underground cables or roadside cabinets which is useful for isolated farms and agricultural land that is far from modern infrastructure.
Key Features:
- Fixed wireless options are available.
- Faster deployment compared to fibre builds.
- Coverage in very hard-to-reach locations.
- No trenching or cable installation required.
4. Airband
Airband combines full fibre and fixed wireless technology to bring broadband to rural areas across England and Wales. It’s a hybrid approach that can be particularly valuable for farms.
This is because bigger agricultural properties often span a wide area and Airband’s wireless capabilities can connect barns, storage units and outbuildings without needing extensive infrastructure.
Key Features:
- Gigabit-capable full-fibre plans.
- Rural SME and agribusiness packages.
- Installation solutions are suited to rural terrain.
- Ongoing network expansion in underserved areas.
5. Rapid Rural
Rapid Rural offers fixed wireless broadband solutions which are designed for homes and businesses in the countryside. The company uses radio links from masts which are strategically places to deliver high-speed Internet, instead of digging trenches or laying fibre.
It’s an ideal alternative for farms who cannot yet access fibre but are still within reach of a wireless signal. Their installation is also typically quicker than fibre rollout, which suits agribusinesses needing better connectivity without long delays.
Key Features:
- Fixed wireless broadband delivery.
- Faster installation timelines.
- Flexible contract options.
- Regional, localised customer support.
