Faster rural broadband could encourage VoIP services uptake

More rural businesses could be encouraged to upgrade to VoIP services if the speed and quality of their broadband connections is improved.

A demonstration has just revealed that broadband connections in the countryside are so poor that it remains quicker to send files by carrier pigeon, literally.

According to the BBC, campaigners flew a carrier pigeon from East Yorkshire to Lincolnshire – a two-hour flight with a computer memory card containing a video file.

At the same time, the file was uploaded onto the internet. However, Rory the pigeon was able to transport the file 120km in just 80 minutes, by which time only 24 per cent of the file had uploaded.

In a statement to the BBC, Tref Davies, the co-founder of a rural internet service provider and organiser of the stunt, said: "The farm we are using has a connection of around 100 to 200 Kbps.

"The kids need to do school work and the farmer has to submit online forms but the connection is not fit for purpose."

Faster, more reliable broadband connections could help encourage rural organisations to replace costly business landlines with VoIP services instead.