A survey run by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (Wales), the CLA, Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru and Wales YFC, aims to explore the current state of digital connectivity in Wales.
This new survey will seek to explore how people in Wales feel about the level of communication between themselves and their provider, cost-value of service and further look at how proposed changes to online livestock recording systems are going to affect the farming community.
It is being launced in reponse to a survey held earlier in the year that showed over 50% of respondents from rural areas felt that the internet they had access to was not fast and reliable, according to these organisations.
Following those results, the groups met with various stakeholders and hosted a webinar to discuss issues further at the virtual Royal Welsh Show in July 2021.
In a joint statement, the organisations said:
“Our last survey revealed that less than 50% of those who lived in rural areas had standard broadband and only 36% had superfast broadband, with 66% stating that they or their household had been impacted by poor broadband. In comparison, 18% of their urban counterparts said they had access to standard broadband and 67% had superfast broadband.
We have highlighted all those findings to stakeholders, providers and Welsh Government Ministers over the course of the summer. As a group we are now keen to learn how well equipped the rural community is to deal with upcoming changes to farming regulations that will require them to complete vast amounts of paperwork online.
“We encourage all our members and anyone who has an interest in digital connectivity to fill out the survey to help inform our next steps and communications with stakeholders going forward.”
The survey will be available to access online here, until December 12.
A paper version is also available at stands at respective stands the Royal Welsh Winter Fair on Monday, November 29 and Tuesday, November 30.
