Annabelle Ewing’s Plan to Improve Rural Broadband Access
Reliable broadband is now essential infrastructure for communities across Ochil and South Perthshire. It supports local businesses, home working, education, healthcare access, public services and everyday communication. Yet many rural households and farms still face slow connections, unreliable signals or limited choice of provider.
Annabelle Ewing’s approach would place rural connectivity at the centre of Scotland’s economic recovery. Better digital infrastructure can help villages retain families, enable businesses to grow locally and ensure that people are not disadvantaged simply because they live beyond the largest towns.
The goal is practical: faster, more dependable broadband for homes, farms, community facilities and businesses, alongside improved mobile coverage where gaps remain. Delivery should be shaped by local needs and measured against clear standards.
Making rural connectivity a national priority
Rural broadband should be treated with the same importance as roads, electricity and public transport. Investment decisions must recognise the distance, terrain and dispersed population of communities in Perthshire, Kinross-shire and surrounding areas rather than relying on urban assumptions.
Annabelle Ewing would press for public investment and infrastructure planning that reaches the hardest-to-serve properties. That includes isolated homes, small settlements, agricultural holdings and rural enterprises that can be overlooked when commercial providers focus on the most profitable routes.
A long-term programme should also prevent new digital inequalities. Publicly supported developments must include transparent coverage commitments, realistic completion dates and proper monitoring after installation.
Supporting homes, farms and local businesses
Farmers increasingly depend on digital tools for livestock monitoring, machinery management, market information and compliance. Poor connectivity can add time and cost to essential work, particularly where mobile coverage is also weak.
For rural businesses, a dependable high-speed connection can make the difference between trading locally and reaching customers across Scotland and beyond. Tourism providers, professional services, retailers and food producers need the ability to process payments, manage bookings, market their products and communicate with clients.
Improved access would also support flexible working. People should be able to build careers without leaving their communities, while employers could recruit from a wider pool of talent across rural Scotland.
Combining fibre, wireless and satellite solutions
There is no single technology that will suit every rural location. Fibre broadband should remain the preferred option where it can be delivered efficiently, but hard-to-reach properties may need fixed wireless, 4G or 5G services, community networks and satellite connections.
A flexible strategy can bring faster improvements while permanent infrastructure is planned. It should avoid leaving residents waiting for years because one technical solution is unavailable or too expensive for a particular landscape.
| Rural need | Suitable approach | Public priority |
|---|---|---|
| Dense villages and small towns | Full-fibre broadband | Accelerate rollout and increase provider accountability |
| Scattered homes and farms | Fibre extensions or fixed wireless | Support hard-to-reach premises |
| Areas with weak mobile signals | New masts and shared infrastructure | Improve voice, data and emergency access |
| Remote properties | Satellite or alternative wireless services | Provide affordable interim and long-term options |
| Community facilities | Dedicated high-capacity connections | Connect schools, halls, libraries and health services |
Giving communities a stronger voice
Residents understand local geography and connectivity problems better than distant contractors. Communities should have a direct role in identifying gaps, checking installation quality and reporting failures.
Local councils, community trusts, business groups and agricultural organisations can help map demand and coordinate solutions. A community-led model may also make it easier to share wayleaves, identify suitable equipment sites and connect public buildings first.
The process should be open about which properties are included, which are excluded and when work is expected. Clear information would allow residents to plan rather than repeatedly chase providers for updates.
Making affordability part of access
Availability alone does not guarantee digital inclusion. Some households may live within a coverage area but struggle with installation costs, monthly charges or the price of suitable equipment. Rural connectivity policy must therefore address affordability as well as speed.
Public support should prioritise households on low incomes, older residents, disabled people and communities where travel to public services is difficult. Community access points, device support and digital skills training can help people gain practical value from a better connection.
Small businesses and farms may also need advice on selecting a suitable package. Independent guidance can prevent customers from paying for services that do not match their actual requirements.
Measuring delivery and protecting value
Every publicly backed broadband project should be judged by outcomes experienced by residents, not simply by the number of premises technically passed. Measures should include real-world speeds, reliability, repair times, customer choice and mobile coverage.
Providers must be held to firm standards, with consequences when deadlines are missed or promised performance is not delivered. Contracts should protect taxpayers and make it possible to redirect support when a project fails to serve the communities it was intended to reach.
Annabelle Ewing’s wider economic vision connects digital access with local opportunity. Stronger rural broadband can help Scotland’s communities attract investment, support independent businesses and participate fully in modern public life.
Priorities for a connected rural Scotland
- Extend full-fibre broadband to as many rural premises as possible.
- Use fixed wireless, mobile and satellite services where fibre is not immediately practical.
- Give communities a formal role in mapping gaps and monitoring delivery.
- Include affordability, digital skills and equipment support in connectivity programmes.
- Publish clear targets for speed, reliability, coverage and completion dates.
Better broadband would strengthen the ability of people across Ochil and South Perthshire to live, work and do business locally. It would support a fairer recovery and help ensure that rural Scotland is treated as a source of opportunity rather than an afterthought.
Follow Annabelle Ewing’s campaign for updates on rural investment, digital infrastructure and representation for Ochil and South Perthshire at Westminster. Share local connectivity concerns with the campaign so that the case for reliable broadband is grounded in the experiences of the communities it must serve.