Internet and WiFi, Wi-Fi Products
Rural Broadband: How To Get Faster Internet In A Rural Area
When you live in a rural area, it can be difficult to get a strong, reliable broadband connection. But in 2022, many services — such as streaming and video calling — rely on a good internet speed.
While 96% of British households have internet access, many of our connections are slow and clunky. Holding a Zoom work meeting is almost impossible with these low internet speeds. So how can you improve your rural broadband in the UK?
Rural areas with the lowest broadband speeds
According to a 2020 Ofcom survey, these are the 6 UK constituencies with the highest proportion of households that can’t get even 2MB broadband:
- West Tyrone, Northern Ireland
- Fermanagh & South Tyrone Northern Ireland
- Penrith & The Border, Cumbria
- South Down, Northern Ireland
- Brecon & Radnorshire, Wales
- Orkney & Shetland, Scotland
While most of England has access to reasonable broadband speeds, the other UK countries aren’t quite as lucky. There are more rural communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, so it’s expected that certain regions of these countries have lower broadband speeds than English constituencies.
But certain areas of England — such as Cumbria and the West Country — also fall high on the list.
Why is it difficult to get reliable internet in rural areas?
There are many reasons why it’s hard to get good broadband in the countryside:
- Poor infrastructure — phone exchanges and fibre cabinets are few and far between, so you could be a long way from the hardware you need to get a good connection
- Expensive to install — rural areas are usually less densely populated. With fewer users to cater for, it’s more expensive for providers to set up and maintain connections in rural areas, making them less of a priority than towns and cities
- Limited providers — LLU broadband (where exchanges are accessible by multiple internet providers) is less common in rural areas, so there’s less competition for services. As well as providing fewer options, this also means the main provider can offer a less competitive service.
These problems are mostly in the hands of BT and other service providers. Rural residents can’t fix these issues — but there are other ways to improve your internet service at home.
How to get good broadband in rural areas
The best way to get a decent internet connection is to use an ethernet cable. Hardwired internet is usually far more reliable than WiFi — so this is a good option if you just need to connect a desktop PC to the internet.
But many of us now use laptops, tablets, phones, and other smart devices that are either unable or impractical to use with an ethernet cable.
In these cases, you have a few options:
- Contact your service provider — logging a complaint will make your provider aware of the problem, though they’re unlikely to fix it immediately, especially if you’re one of only a few households in the area
- Use a dongle or tether to your phone — using your phone as a WiFi hotspot can be an effective way to use local 3G, 4G & 5G signals, though it’s expensive if you want to stream or video call, as these activities use up a lot of data
- Install a Roam router — the Maxview Roam WiFi router is designed for setting up WiFi in caravans and motorhomes, so it’s purpose-built for getting internet in rural areas. Use our WiFi selector to find the right system for your home.
How does Maxview Roam WiFi work in rural homes?
The Roam works like a normal WiFi router, except that it picks up the fastest possible signals and amplifies them, giving you uninterrupted internet access.
When your broadband service is working, the Roam connects to this as normal. But when your WiFi cuts out, the Roam’s omnidirectional antenna automatically connects to a 3G, 4G or 5G signal — ensuring your internet access is unimpeded at all times. With a good data plan, you can stream, Zoom, and browse without interruption.
For maximum internet speeds of up to 3.3Gbps per second, we recommend choosing the next-generation Roam 5G router. And if you do want to use an ethernet connection, the Roam 5G comes with 2 ethernet ports.
Is the Maxview Roam easy to install at home?
The Roam is designed for use on a caravan or motorhome, so we often advise customers to find a local installer to set up their router. But for home use, this may not be necessary.
Watch our installation video below, or read our installation guide. If you’re unsure whether you can install it by yourself, it’s best to speak to an approved installer who can help you position the router for the best possible signal and internet speeds.
How much data do I need to use the Maxview Roam at home?
Most of the time, the Roam can use and amplify your existing broadband connection. In these cases, it won’t cost you anything extra to use the Roam.
But if you’re relying on the Roam picking up 3G, 4G and 5G signals, you’ll need a plan with enough data to accommodate your monthly internet usage. If you regularly stream video through services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+, you’ll need a lot of data.
Here’s a rough guide to how much monthly data you’ll need to perform common online activities:
- Streaming video for 90 mins a day = 30GB
- Video chatting for 30 mins a day = 4GB
- Social media for 60 mins a day = 11GB
You can use an online data calculator to estimate how much data you need per month.
Boost your rural broadband internet speeds with the Maxview Roam
Tired of waiting for your broadband provider to fix your slow internet speeds? The Roam router is an immediate solution that can create and maintain a strong, reliable connection.
Learn more about the innovative Maxview Roam X or Maxview Roam 5G for rural areas.