Communities and businesses in the most remote areas of the UK are set to benefit from better access to wireless broadband networks, as new plans today were announced in part of the UK government’s wider effort to grow the rural economy.

A new £7 million fund will test out new ways to bring together satellite, wireless, and fixed line internet connectivity, helping support farmers and tourism businesses to access lightning fast, reliable connectivity in remote areas for the first time.

Further, the new approaches laid out in the plans aim to help rural businesses make the most of new agricultural technologies by improving connectivity on their land – for example, by using drone technology to monitor livestock and crops.

The fund comes alongside the UK government’s commitment earlier this year to deliver improved, high-speed broadband via satellite connectivity for up to 35,000 homes in the most remote parts of the UK through an £8m grant scheme, giving them a broadband connection that will be up to ten times faster than what is currently available to them.

UK government environment secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “The countryside makes up over 90% of the UK’s land mass, it is home to millions of people, and contributes over £250 billion to our economy in England alone. Rural areas are rich in human and natural potential with strong communities and entrepreneurial businesses.

“This government is committed to making sure that the needs of people and businesses in rural areas are at the heart of policymaking. We want to go further in unleashing that potential and support people in rural areas to build the sustainable future they want to see. Unleashing Rural Opportunity sets out what we have already delivered for rural communities and new initiatives to build on that record.”

Improved broadband is just a part of the document, which is set to be officially unveiled at the Future Countryside Conference.

It also aims to improve transportation and electricity infrastructure in rural communities, especially in the electrification of heating and EV (electric vehicle) charging.

Broadband is a major focus for rural communities, which struggle to keep up with the wider economy due to a lack of consistent and good internet connectivity. Without proper broadband, rural areas are left behind in work, education, and can struggle to maintain a population if people cannot sustain remote work.

New research found that rural Scotland is currently beset by the slowest broadband speeds in the UK – particularly in Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Argyll and Bute, Na h-Eileanan Siar, and Highland local authorities.

Despite government efforts – including in Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network – rural communities are still falling behind in their broadband.

While Ofcom has said that the UK was set to hit the halfway mark for broadband in March, meaning that half of all UK homes would receive full-fibre broadband, it did not specify its progress in rural areas, as urban and suburban cities and towns across the UK are still getting upgraded to full-fibre.

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However, the Federation of Small Businesses found that businesses still struggled in rural areas mainly due to a lack of adequate broadband.

Further, while broadband is essential to most households to maintain access to work and education, the cost-of-living crisis has made many families opt out of broadband to pay for other expenses over the winter this year, with Citizens Advice estimating about one million Brits having to cut their broadband due to rising bills.

While the government aims to make rural broadband available, these already struggling communities may find accessing it a challenge all on its own.