For many of us, moving to the countryside is a dream. After years of coping with the noise and fast pace of urban life, the thought of retreating to a peaceful rural village is most appealing. However, a number of people are deterred from making their escape to the country due to concerns they will be cut off from the everyday essentials they take for granted in the city, such as fast and reliable broadband.
Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be the case, as modern technology means you can stay perfectly connected in the countryside, while still enjoying the benefits of rustic life. Read on to find more.
Try satellite
One of the best forms of rural broadband is satellite. As the name suggests, this technology beams an internet signal, down from a satellite that is orbiting in space. All that’s required to connect to this service is your own small dish, which is then linked to a modem. Everywhere is the same distance from space, so you’ll receive the same level of online access whether you’re in the heart of London or the Scottish Highlands.
This makes satellite an ideal choice for the countryside, as other broadband options like ADSL and fibre optic require expensive and time consuming infrastructural developments like the laying of underground cables or construction of phone masts. In many rural communities this simply isn’t feasible and could also spoil the natural beauty of the local area.
Not only is satellite broadband easy to install, it also provides a fast and reliable service. This technology can now reach super-fast speeds of up to 20 Mbps – well above the national average of 6.5 Mbps that was recorded by technology company Akamai earlier this year. Furthermore, this type of connection will not be shared with other households, thus increasing your chances of receiving the top speed advertised.
Government action
The countryside may become even more connected in the future, as the government has launched the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) scheme, which aims to make super-fast internet available across 90 per cent of the UK. While this project is commendable, there are some worries about how long it will take to complete and the rollout of new connections in several areas already looks certain to miss the 2015 deadline originally set by the coalition.
However, with satellite broadband available immediately, this does not need to be a concern. Indeed, people who were planning to take advantage of the BDUK scheme could turn to satellite instead.
The benefits of country life
Now that you know it’s still possible to stay connected in the countryside, you can focus on the many benefits that rural life brings. As well as the peace and tranquillity that comes with living in more remote areas, there are health benefits. For instance, there is a lot less pollution in the country and it’s often easier to stay relaxed and avoid stress once removed from the high-speed, pressured environment of large cities.
Another factor that often draws urban residents to rural towns and villages is community. Many people feel this has all but disappeared from the UK’s largest cities and it is not uncommon for individuals to not even know their own neighbours. However, the small size of rural settlements makes it much simpler to interact with others and it’s fair to say a sense of community is often easier to find in the countryside.