NFU encourages government to speed up 4G rollout

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is calling on the government to streamline the planning process for new telecoms infrastructure in a bid to boost rural business.

Reported by farminguk.com, the NFU has written to the Communities & Local Government and Culture, Media and Sport departments asking for changes to 4G roll-out planning rules in order to deliver improved mobile broadband and phone services quicker.

In addition, it is also calling for planning controls for mast provision to be relaxed so those with 4G sims in their phones can connect even in the most rural areas of Britain.

David Collier, NFU chief rural affairs advisor, believes there are strong economic benefits to be had from improving connection and reception services in these regions. For example, a mobile phone can offer a “lifeline” in the event of a farm accident.

He commented on the call: “One in fifty people in rural areas cannot get a mobile phone signal from any operator, a problem that is unheard of in major urban areas.

“Farms and other rural businesses also stand to benefit from 4G mobile broadband and improvements to 3G, but only if the infrastructure can be erected or extended as needed without undue delay,” he added.

The call follows observations from the Union last year, previously cited by thepoultrysite.com, which suggests two out of three farmers who use the internet say they would benefit from the rollout of 4G.