CLA backs satellite broadband for rural areas

A new satellite broadband service could offer a significant boost for people in living in remote or rural areas with little or no existing network coverage, it has emerged.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has teamed up with satellite provider Eurosat to offer the special CLA Rural Broadband package.

As a short-term solution, the service is designed to bring a broadband service to members of the organisation currently unable to access the technology, ahead of future network roll-out plans in the UK.

CLA president Henry Aubrey-Fletcher pointed out that this service "highlights the rural broadband vacuum", which has been caused by the government's "inaction".

"As we have said time and again, unless government is prepared to invest in fast rural broadband, countryside businesses will continue to lose out to their urban rivals," he explained.

"With this new service offered to CLA members, many people will be able to receive fast broadband that will greatly benefit both their businesses and their home lives."

Meanwhile, a discussion paper commissioned by campaigning group Consumer Focus recently urged the government to do more to bridge the growing "digital divide" among UK households.