As much as the internet has spread rapidly across the world, the internet access in the rural areas still poses several difficult challenges that can affect the economic development, healthcare, education, businesses and much more. Below we have listed down all the possible rural internet problems.
Lack of Infrastructure
This is by far the most common issue faced by the rural population. People living in the city can’t imagine living a single day without the internet! It has technically become a mandatory facility to have even for the poorest of people living in urban areas. Whereas a lot of the ruralites still have no access to internet facilities even to this day while living in the age of modernization and advancement.
Rural areas don’t have the basic infrastructure like fiber optics setup, broadband networks and cell towers since all this costs an arm and a leg to build everywhere. Network carriers don’t invest that much budget on rural areas as these places provide less or no profit in the long term.
On the other hand, there are geographic barriers as well that hinder such facilities from reaching the rural areas like mountains, severe temperatures, long distances etc. which can make it hard to lay the internet cables for establishing the connections. All of these problems means more investment and time required in order to provide internet access.
Technological Challenges
In rural areas, even if the internet services are being provided, it is usually much slower in speed as compared to urban areas. Slow speed combined with low bandwidth hinders the use of the internet for rural people as modern usage of internet facilities like video streaming, online education and businesses etc, require fast speeds as well as huge amounts of data.
Another reason is many rural places have outdated technology installed such as oldschool dial-up connections that can be unreliable and dead slow, hence more unnecessary rural internet problems. Talk about waiting a few minutes for loading a single instagram reel every single time!
Long term sustainability
Maintenance of the internet infrastructure can be quite challenging in the countryside as it requires reaching far-off areas and battling harsh weather conditions. This means more waiting time for restoration of the internet in case of outages.
It is very difficult to find a sustainable model that supports the internet services of the rural areas since the population ratio vs the high investment/maintenance costs makes it close to impossible for investors to fund internet service projects within the rural areas.
Social awareness and Education
Due to low literacy rates in the rural areas, many people are either unaware of the usage of the internet and its benefits, or are not educated enough to fully utilize the internet facilities. Such problems lead to lesser demand for internet services as well as a major barrier to adoption of the internet in such places.
Regulatory policies
Unnecessary complexity within the government processes can lead to late deployment of the latest internet technologies for the rural areas.
In many cases, there might be insufficient incentives for the LTE internet providers to invest, adding more baggage to rural internet problems.
Lack of coordination between multiple levels of the government and stakeholders within the private sector also leads to inefficiency in deploying internet facilities to the rural areas.
Unfavorable economic conditions
During these times of inflation it is easily understandable that not everyone can afford everything.
What does this mean? In simple words, a common man living in the rural areas might not be able to afford a decent internet connection since it can end up being heavy on the pocket. Not all ruralites earn hefty money.
Furthermore, investors feel reluctant to expand the internet services to these areas when there are uncertainties on profitability and government policies. All of these issues make it really difficult for everyone in overcoming challenges of the rural internet.
Potential strategies to overcome these internet challenges
Partnerships between the public and private sectors
We have seen in many cases that when the government collaborates with the private sector, the result is often quite fruitful.
Similarly, if the government provides the private internet sector incentives such as low or no taxations within the rural areas, subsidies and fundings for basic infrastructure etc, then the private investors will be keen to develop the internet infrastructure for the ruralites across the US.
Both the parties could collaborate to share the costs and associated risks that are required in developing and maintaining the internet connections in the rural areas.
Providing effective alternatives
Authorities can utilize the latest technologies such as Starlink to provide satellite based internet to the rural areas as this can be cost effective as compared to developing individual infrastructure for each rural area.
Another option could be to provide wireless data via the telecom industry. This can be cost effective as compared to laying of underground fiber optics to far-off distances.
Provide educational awareness about the internet
This is one of the most effective ways to promote the usage of the internet among the ruralites and in overcoming challenges of rural internet.
Awareness campaigns and programs should be introduced within various rural areas of the US. The instructors should not only teach about the internet and its benefits to the community, but also provide short training programs to these country folks that will help them to practically experience the benefits of internet facilities.
Reforming the policies
We all know how government policies can hinder the process of development. Hence it is crucial for the government to look into their policies about the expansion of internet broadband services, such as Wavenet, to the rural areas and make changes that encourage the investors to come onboard.
Providing fast-track paperwork for such projects so that more rural areas can benefit from the internet services soon can also be added to the possibilities.
Conclusion
The rural internet problems are not bound to one issue, rather it is a set of multiple challenges that requires careful approach to it.
Hence, the government and investors should try their best to resolve these issues in the most effective way.
On the other hand, the ruralites should try to raise their voice over the lack of proper internet connection in their area since this is a basic right to have in the era we live in. This will also create an impact at a higher level thus encouraging the authorities to provide better internet services to these people.
