In this modern day and age, the internet has become an essential part of our lives just like electricity and water. People living in the urban areas consider it a second nature to have a fast internet connection present with them anywhere they go. However for the ruralites, having an average working internet might be a dream for many living in those places. While the connectivity to the internet has been established in some rural areas, not all of the rural places have access to this basic facility. Well, if you happen to be a ruralite and are wondering what to do about this situation then you came at the right place! We will explain all about the rural internet options and how you can aim to improve internet access in your rural community.
The main problem about rural internet access
Living in the rural side of the country has its perks like vast fields, fresh air, calm and quiet environment etc. However, a major downside is lack of proper internet access in these areas. It is an essential part of our lives now and considered a basic facility for all. It has limited to no availability in these areas due to lack of proper infrastructure, less number of users, expensive installation costs etc. Keeping all these issues in mind, we will discuss what rural broadband options are available for all the ruralites currently.
Satellite based internet
This is a fairly new technology for the public. It works by catching signals directly from the orbiting satellites around the globe. The main benefit of having this type of internet connection is the ability to use it anywhere on the planet. It is reliable as you don’t have to rely on your local service provider. The downside is that it might not be as fast as fiber optics and it won’t work properly when there are heavy clouds in the sky.
Fixed wireless internet
This wireless setup is much faster than a satellite based internet and doesn’t need a cable or a phone connection to install. You simply put up an antenna on your house or office roof and it will catch the radio signals. This is a good option for places where there are less obstructions as it requires a clear sight to communicate with the tower efficiently. However, it can be slow if there is a lot of signal interference or buildings blocking the pathway.
DSL
This is the old school internet requiring an existing telephone line to operate. It is not the fastest option but gets the job done. Many rural people use it as it is the only option easily available to them. You won’t be able to use the internet and telephone line simultaneously which can be a bit annoying.
Fiber optics
This is the best type of connection. It offers extremely fast internet speeds and can handle a number of devices all together. The downside to owning a fiber optics setup is its initial cost of installation as rural areas are far away. However, if your community is able to get this infrastructure, then nobody has to ever worry about a slow internet connection at your place!
5G
This is the latest technology introduced across the globe. It is basically the fiber optic version of the internet but wireless. It offers super fast data speeds and is considered a game-changer technology for the tech world. Ruralites will definitely benefit from this setup, but due to limited availability at the moment they have to be patient about it.
Major hurdles faced by the rural community
We all know how big of a difference there is when we compare the rural broadband options
with the urban ones. It’s not about just having an internet setup, rather there are other roadblocks being faced.
Infrastructure
This is a big challenge when it comes to installing good internet setups in the rual areas. Its not just the long distance that has to be covered. There are many places that have hard to reach terrains like mountains, harsh weather etc. All of these things make it more challenging for the companies to install their setup as it requires a lot of time, effort, maintenance as well as low profit margins.
Fundings and investments
This is another big issue. Government has multiple things to look after already. Providing a fast internet to a far-off rural area might not be on their priority list. Due to difficult terrains, long distances and no government support, even the private investors feel reluctant to take up the challenge as they fear losing their investments.
Benefits of access to high-speed internet within the rural community
Even if it’s a challenge to install a good internet infrastructure, the benefits are far too many.
Local Businesses
Local businesses in the rural community can increase their sales with online marketing. This will help them generate significant incomes for their families as well as provide more options for the customers who are often looking for something cheaper and reliable. As their business flourishes, more employment opportunities will be created as well.
Work From Home
There are alot of people who will be able to work from home and enjoy time with their families instead of living alone away from their homes and getting depressed.
Education
Ruralites don’t have access to the best educational institutes in their communities. Providing high speed internet access will open opportunities for them as they can study online from the best of institutions across the globe from the comfort of their homes.
Conclusion
The Internet is not a luxury these days, it is a basic necessity for everyone. Improving rural broadband options is something that is becoming an essential requirement in this modern era of technology. It’s high time that the government joins hands with the investors to come up with a long term plan of digitizing the rural communities over the span of a few years. We hope the ruralites are soon able to enjoy ultra-fast internet from the comfort of their homes!
