It’s easy to assume that farmers and those living in rural locations don’t need access to high-speed internet. After all, they might spend a lot of time outside to earn their living and participate in recreational activities.
In contrast, city dwellers without access to rolling green pastures might spend more time inside, meaning they may be more likely to require the internet to do their job and have fun.
However, country and city dwellers are not all that different, and both deserve and need high-speed internet. If you require further convincing, you can learn about some of the most common reasons for accessing the best rural broadband internet in NZ below.
Connect With the Community
We saw just how important staying connected was when the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world. With stay-at-home orders in place worldwide, people could no longer drive to visit their friends and family. Instead, they had to connect with them digitally.
That might be easy enough to do in a built-up city with advanced broadband options but much more challenging in areas where access to high-quality internet is limited. Buffering and call drop-outs can be a challenge, and having high-speed internet in rural areas can be a game-changer for preventing isolation and connecting with loved ones.
Operate Businesses
Having seamless communication with suppliers and clients is crucial for running a business, but many people take it for granted that they will always have it. Before satellite internet service providers like WOI established themselves in New Zealand, many rural business owners encountered daily communication struggles, impacting their ability to run a profitable business.
With fast internet, they’re able to contact their most valued suppliers and customers in a multitude of different ways, such as on the phone, video chat, email, and more.
Connect With Healthcare Providers
Healthcare is changing, and more hospitals and medical centres are seeing the value of telehealth services. Telehealth is described as healthcare delivered with digital technology, and it has proved helpful for patients and healthcare providers alike.
Patients can remain comfortable in their own homes or care facilities, and time-poor nurses, doctors, and specialists can discuss ailments without always having to see them in person.
However, the Ministry of Health states that care providers and patients must have fast broadband internet services for telehealth to be effective.
Receive Education
While many rural children living far away from the closest educational facilities attend boarding schools to reduce travel, many are also homeschooled. Currently, nearly 8,000 students belonging to over 4,400 families are receiving a homeschool education in New Zealand.
With technology evolving rapidly and digital tech being a core part of many schools’ curricula, it can be crucial for children in rural locations to receive the same opportunities as their counterparts.
However, it’s not just primary and secondary school students that need high-speed internet to reach their full educational potential. Anyone
who decides to return to study at a later date to upskill or learn something new should also be able to access online courses with
ease.
Enjoy the Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture
Farming was once a largely manually intensive practice that people may describe as back-breaking. There’s no denying that farming is still a physical job, but many more farmers than ever before are taking advantage of the IoT in agriculture. This essentially means they’re taking ‘dumb’ farming equipment and making it ‘smart’. IoT devices are embedded with sensors into equipment so that they can be sensed and controlled remotely.
Everything from sheds and tractors to pumps and computers is now easily monitored and controlled remotely – and in real-time.
There are many benefits associated with this technological shift, including remotely monitoring farm conditions, receiving faster insights into real-time data, and ensuring efficiency. However, slow or no internet can prevent farmers from advancing their agricultural businesses, making the need for high-speed internet in rural locations even more critical.
Have Fun
It can’t be all work and no play on a rural property. Even farmers like to take a break from the stock and immerse themselves in something else.
Reading books and watching TV are fun ways to pass the time, but the internet has many more options. You can watch videos, browse social media, and play online games alone or with friends in other places. Such tasks can be next to impossible without a reliable and fast internet connection.
Is It Time for Rural Broadband?
There’s no denying that life was much simpler before the internet arrived, but it has now become a necessity for many people. You can
enhance your business processes, have fun, access essential services, and enjoy education. Now might be the right time to explore your fast
rural broadband options with leading satellite internet providers like WOI.
FAQs
Why do rural areas need high-speed internet?
Rural areas need high-speed internet to overcome isolation, connect with their community, access essential services like healthcare and
education, run businesses efficiently, and take advantage of technological advancements such as IoT in agriculture.
What are some challenges faced by rural areas in accessing high-speed internet?
Some challenges faced by rural areas in accessing high-speed internet include limited infrastructure and connectivity options, high implementation costs for service providers due to lower population density, geographic barriers that hinder effective signal transmission, and a lack of competition among internet service providers.
