Rural broadband: How to get better internet in the countryside

a whimsical illustration of a countryside setting in pastel colours

There are huge benefits to moving to the countryside, but internet speed isn’t often one of them.

While cities benefit from high-speed connections, many rural communities are still playing catch-up.

This can make remote work difficult, disrupt video calls, and impact streaming whatever time of day you use the internet. But there are solutions!

On this page, we’ll discuss the broadband options for rural areas and what to consider when shopping for a deal.

By the end, you’ll be able to make informed choices based on what’s available where you live.

What are your rural broadband options?

When you live in a rural area, you may not have the same broadband options you might have in a town or city. For example, you may not be able to sign up to an ultrafast broadband service or even have fibre broadband as an option.

But don’t fret. The good news is there are technologies designed to deliver internet access to less populated areas.

Fixed Line Home Broadband

Fixed line broadband uses physical cables to deliver internet to your home. This is the most common type of internet service available throughout the UK.

There are a few different types of fixed line broadband services available:

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

The oldest and slowest type of broadband still available that solely uses copper telephone lines.

Pros Cons
  • Widely available and often the cheapest option
  • Slow speeds, especially for uploads

Part-Fibre / FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet)

Fibre optic from the exchange to a street cabinet, then copper telephone line to your home.

Pros Cons
  • Faster than ADSL and more reliable
  • The copper line slows things down

 

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Full Fibre / FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)

Full fibre connections use fibre optic cables end to end, offering the fastest and most reliable speeds available.

Pros Cons
  • Superfast speeds, very reliable broadband, future-proof
  • Less widely available in rural areas, can be more expensive


ADSL connections use the BT Openreach network, with almost complete coverage of the UK. FTTC has wider coverage than FTTP, but is slower because of that final copper link.

The government’s Project Gigabit programme seeks to change that, though.

It is a massive undertaking with the goal of ensuring even the most remote homes and businesses can access the benefits of fast internet.

This means more rural homes should have access to faster broadband in the coming years, fantastic news for everyone struggling with slow speeds.

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Mobile Broadband (4G/5G)

Mobile broadband uses the same technology as your mobile phone to connect to the internet. It’s a good alternative if fixed line options are slow where you live.

You can access the internet using a dongle, mobile hotspot, or dedicated router, connecting to a mobile network.

Pros Cons
  • Portable, quick to set up, can be fast if you have good signal
  • Speed is dependent on network signal strength and coverage, data limits can apply


Mobile broadband is subject to network signal. If you live in a valley or an area with patchy mobile coverage, this option might not be the best solution.

Some providers, like Three, offer specific mobile broadband deals which could be ideal for rural areas.

Get Three Deals

Satellite Broadband

Satellite broadband connects your home to the internet via a satellite dish. It's a good choice for very remote locations if other options aren’t viable.

Pros Cons
  • Available almost anywhere, independent of fixed line access
  • High latency (delay), can be affected by weather, expensive


If you’re in a truly isolated area, satellite broadband might be your only option.

Fixed wireless access

Fixed wireless access provides connectivity by sending a wireless signal from a central mast to a receiver on your property.

Pros Cons
  • Can be faster than ADSL, quicker to install than new fibre, good for communities
  • Requires line of sight to the transmitter, speeds can be affected by distance and obstacles, not available everywhere


Access is typically provided by local companies installing masts within a community.

Instead of relying on traditional phone lines or mobile signals that might not reach, a dedicated wireless broadband network can serve a specific rural location.

This can be a fantastic solution for small villages where fixed line infrastructure is limited.

Best broadband providers for rural areas

Finding the right provider for your rural home might mean looking beyond the big names.

While Openreach providers will be common, there are also dedicated rural broadband providers.

  • Openreach providers: Other providers, such as Sky, Plusnet and Vodafone, use the Openreach network. If Openreach FTTP is available in your area, you will likely have a wide choice of providers.
     
  • Gigaclear: Gigaclear is a specialist rural fibre provider, with its own network in specific parts of the country. It focuses exclusively on FTTP and offers some of the fastest speeds available in the areas it covers.
     
  • B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North): B4RN is a community-led project providing full fibre broadband to some of the most remote parts of Northern England. It's known for incredibly fast speeds and community-focused approach, often involving local residents in projects.
     
  • Highland Broadband: Highland Broadband is a relatively new provider, committed to bringing high-speed full fibre internet to the Highlands of Scotland.
     
  • Quickline: Quickline recently announced plans to bring 1Gb broadband to rural areas in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It anticipates reaching 400,000+ rural premises by 2028, helped along by funding from Project Gigabit.

Here’s a simple comparison table to give you an idea of what to expect:

Round-up of UK providers that may be available to rural areas
Provider Type of service Average download speeds Key focus
Openreach Providers
(i.e BT, Sky, Vodafone, Plusnet)
ADSL, FTTC, FTTP 10Mb - 900Mb+ Wide availability, large customer base
Gigaclear FTTP 200Mb - 900Mb Rural full fibre specialist
B4RN FTTP 1Gb - 10Gb Community-led, remote full fibre
Highland Broadband FTTP 100Mb - 900Mb Dedicated full fibre for Scottish Highlands
Quickline FTTP 100Mb - 1Gb No mid-contract price increases, investment to build in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Specialist ‘altnet’ fibre providers like Gigaclear and B4RN might not cover your exact location yet. But if they do, they often offer a service with a good understanding of rural property needs and subsequently a more reliable connection.

Their dedication to rural connectivity means they are often more responsive to the specific needs of their customers, which is often reflected in their reviews.

How to get internet in rural areas

Getting a fast internet connection in a rural area starts with knowing exactly what services are accessible where you live.

We recommend starting with the Broadband Genie postcode checker first for an easy check of the broadband packages available for your home.

Broadband Genie deals checker

If you’re not seeing many options, it’s then worth visiting the Openreach postcode checker. This will give you more information on the technology and speeds available in your area.

If fibre isn’t available yet, we suggest signing up for updates so you’ll be the first to know when it is.

Once you know your options:

  • Look at average vs. guaranteed speeds
  • Review installation timelines and fees
  • Check reviews for reliability and customer satisfaction

We also suggest researching for local ‘altnet’ providers in your area.

If you don’t yet have fibre in your area, you may be able to get it. Incentives like the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme offers funding to help install new ultrafast fibre infrastructure in rural locations.

If your local community applies as a group, the cost of full fibre can be significantly reduced.

How to improve broadband speed in rural areas

If you already have a broadband connection, there are a few ways to optimise your download speeds and reliability.

Restart your router

It’s a simple step, but it can help resolve temporary glitches. Just like a computer, routers can benefit from a restart to clear memory and errors.

Switch it off for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for all the lights to stabilise.

Move your router

Your Wi-Fi signal can be significantly impacted by where your router is located.

Try to place it in a central location in your home, away from thick walls, appliances and other electronic devices that could cause interference.

Placing it on a shelf or higher up can also improve the signal.

Minimise interference

Cordless phones, microwaves, baby monitors, and even your neighbours' Wi-Fi can interfere with your signal.

If you have older devices, try switching them off temporarily to see if your speed improves.

You could also try changing your Wi-Fi channel, as some channels are less congested than others.

Use Ethernet cables

While wireless is convenient, a wired Ethernet connection offers the most stability and performance.

If you’re working from home or streaming, or downloading, you’ll get a much faster and more stable connection with wires than you will with Wi-Fi.

Check your speeds regularly

Use an online speed test tool at different times of day. If the speeds you’re getting are consistently below what was promised, contact your provider for support.

We recommend performing all the tweaks here first, then discuss with your provider. They are legally obligated to deliver what they promised, within reason.

Check the Ofcom Broadband Speeds Code of Practice for the full breakdown of your rights.

Rural broadband FAQs

  • Can I get fibre broadband in the countryside?

    Possibly! Availability depends on exactly where you live. While rural areas have historically lagged behind, things are improving thanks to schemes like Project Gigabit and specialist providers like Gigaclear and B4RN.

    Use Broadband Genie’s postcode checker to see what’s available at your address.

  • Why is rural broadband so slow?

    Rural areas often rely on older copper telephone lines, which weren’t built for fast internet. Fibre upgrades have been slower in the countryside because of the cost and complexity of installing cables to remote homes.

    The rollout of fibre broadband to rural areas is improving all the time. Our advice is to check regularly for new services.

  • What’s the best rural broadband option for streaming?

    Full fibre (FTTP) is your best option for rural internet, if it’s available. It’s fast, stable, and great for streaming without buffering, VoIP calls, gaming or downloading. If not, part-fibre (FTTC) is a good runner-up.

    Where wired broadband isn’t an option, 4G/5G mobile broadband with unlimited data could work well, depending on signal strength.

  • What is the best broadband for rural areas?

    It depends on your location and needs:

    Full Fibre (FTTP) for speed and reliability (if available)

    Part-Fibre (FTTC) as a solid mid-range option

    Mobile broadband if you’ve got good signal

    Satellite for hard-to-reach spots

Conclusion

Living in a rural area no longer means having to content with slow internet.

There are now more options, better providers, and ongoing projects focused on improving connectivity for homes outside towns and cities.

Start by seeing what’s available at your address with a postcode checker. Explore community initiatives and funding options. And don’t underestimate the small changes you can make at home to get the most from your connection either!

Jamie Kavanagh

Meet the author:

Contributor

Jamie worked as a NOC engineer with a national telecoms provider for over a decade before deciding he preferred writing for a living. He is passionate about making technical subjects understandable to all. He has written for PC Gamer, Tom's Hardware, Hilton Hotels, DHL, Dyson and others.


Specialist subject: As an ex-engineer, it has to be networks and installation

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