The UK government determined to provide superfast broadband access for the rural communities

According to the ‘Country Land & Business Association’ (CLA), the rural firms have the best Christmas gift, namely, reliable broadband services. Ofcom, the regulator informed that 35% of the rural masses are unable to access super fast broadband. In fact, 20% of the rural areas in England and Wales do not have a proper broadband connection at all. Harry Cotterell, the CLA president said that the government is intending to spend much for broadband upgrade in the country. The ‘Broadband Delivery UK’ (BDUK) will distribute the amount suitably to the counties. But Cotterell is unhappy that the progress of work in rural areas is much slow. This is creating a digital divide between urban and rural areas, which should not be allowed to develop. The tenants have deserted the landlords due to the non availability of superfast broadband. The village folks are unable to access important online facilities like tax returns, bill payments etc, due to the non availability of proper internet connection. It is a setback for the rural masses that most of the government services are moving to ‘online’. BT, the largest service provider in the UK is responsible for providing superfast broadband service to 66% of the population by 2014. Virgin Media, another service provider is also going ahead with its installation plans. But the private players are reluctant to execute the job in the rural areas at the specified cost. This makes the involvement of the government all the more necessary. Jeremy Hunt, the cultural secretary, has admitted that GBP 530 million fund provided by the government will not suffice. Another GBP 300 will be needed to achieve the task.