Survey shows rural Derbyshire is seeking faster broadband

A recent report released by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has offered insights into broadband use in the East Midlands County of Derbyshire.

The study discovered that the area’s rural residents were almost twice more likely to move to faster fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband than those based in more urban locations, like Derby and Chesterfield.

Ofcom commented:

“To date, take-up of full fibre has been notably higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Of premises with full fibre access, 52 per cent of premises in rural areas have taken a full fibre service, compared to 32 per cent in urban areas.”

The regulator added that despite the county’s urban areas being able to more easily connect to FTTP networks, people who worked and lived in its more rural and remote communities were likelier to switch up their provider in favour of better speeds and a more dependable service.

The recent findings are included in the Connected Nations 2024 report from Ofcom, which also uncovered that an increasing number of households that had a full fibre connection opt for quicker broadband speeds on a year-on-year basis.

When consulted regarding the Ofcom report, full fibre internet service provider (ISP) Gigaclear stated that it wasn’t surprised by the heavy demand in rural parts of the county. It commented that customers in remote areas typically find themselves low on the list for nationwide internet improvements and seek out alternative solutions.

Gigaclear has been instrumental in providing more than 15,000 businesses and homes in rural Derbyshire with access to an FTTP connection.