How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: 9 Best Ways

Mark Dalio July 12, 2024 13 0

Today, it’s crucial to have a reliable and fast broadband connection. Unfortunately, many rural areas still need help with slow internet speeds due to a lack of infrastructure and limited access to broadband providers. How to improve broadband speed in rural areas?

You can take various steps to improve broadband speed in rural areas. In this article, you’ll explore some of the best strategies for boosting your broadband speed and getting the most out of your broadband. These tips will help you improve your broadband speed and enjoy a better online experience. So, let’s find out how to improve broadband speed in rural areas.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Introduction

Enhancing broadband speed in rural areas is a crucial initiative to reduce the digital divide and ensure fair access to the advantages of the digital era.

Nevertheless, rural communities encounter distinctive obstacles in acquiring high-speed internet connectivity due to their geographical remoteness and sparse populations.

Rural areas frequently need essential infrastructure, such as fibre-optic cables, to facilitate high-speed broadband connections.

The economic viability of investing in rural infrastructure for internet service providers is undermined by the considerable costs and complexities of extending networks across long distances and challenging terrain.

The cost of extending broadband networks to rural areas can be excessively high and may pose significant financial challenges.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Understanding Your Current Broadband Speed

You can measure your broadband speed using online speed-testing tools such as speedtest.net. To ensure accurate results, you must minimise bandwidth usage from other devices on your network. Terminate any unnecessary applications or programs that utilise your internet connection in the background.

Measuring current broadband speed is crucial for evaluating the performance of an internet connection. It provides an accurate assessment of the existing infrastructure and assists in identifying the most suitable solutions to enhance broadband speed.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Choose the Right Internet Service Provider

Choosing an internet service provider (ISP) with robust rural coverage is paramount for rural communities. It guarantees that residents in rural areas can enjoy high-speed internet connectivity and access the digital resources they need.

An internet service provider offering extensive rural coverage will likely deliver a dependable and consistent internet service. Additionally, ISPs with robust rural coverage tend to provide faster broadband speeds and superior performance compared to those with limited coverage.

Choosing an ISP that offers comprehensive rural coverage is crucial to ensure that internet services in rural areas are accessible, reliable, fast, and prepared for future technological advancements.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Upgrade Your Broadband Package

By upgrading to a higher-speed package, users can experience a substantial improvement in broadband performance. With faster download and upload speeds, a higher-speed package facilitates quicker data transfers, enabling users to transfer information rapidly.

Higher-speed packages offer the bandwidth required to ensure seamless streaming of high-quality content. They are particularly advantageous for online gaming, providing fast and stable internet connections that minimise latency and ensure a smooth gameplay experience.

The capabilities of your current network infrastructure may influence the possibility of upgrading to a higher-speed package.

Although an upgrade can enhance performance, factors such as the quality of the modem/router, network congestion, and overall network infrastructure can still affect the actual performance users experience.

Upgrading to a higher-speed package enhances broadband performance through various benefits. By upgrading to a higher-speed package, users can harness the internet’s full potential and indulge in a seamless and more productive online experience.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Optimise Your Router Placement

Place your router at a central location within your home or office. This strategic placement minimises dead zones and promotes an even distribution of the WiFi signal.

You need to place the router at a higher elevation, such as mounting it on a wall or positioning it on a shelf for improved propagation of the WiFi signal. This elevation helps minimise signal obstructions caused by obstacles at ground level. Thus, it enhances the effectiveness of the WiFi signal.

To prevent interference with the WiFi signal, ensure the router is positioned away from physical obstructions that can disrupt its transmission. Keep the router away from devices that may introduce interference into the signal.

If your router features adjustable antennas, try various positions to maximise the signal strength. Additionally, if you require WiFi coverage in areas like a basement or backyard, consider placing the router closer to those regions to improve the signal reach.

It is essential to regularly check and install the latest firmware updates for your router.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Use Wired Connections

Ethernet cables offer a dependable and steady connection in contrast to wireless connections. They can provide faster speeds than WiFi connections.

Ethernet cables enable higher data transfer rates, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted experience. In addition, they offer enhanced security when compared to wireless connections.

Moreover, Ethernet cables facilitate the connection of multiple devices to a network through switches or routers.

Although WiFi is convenient for mobile devices and situations where wired connections are impractical, utilising Ethernet cables for devices that demand stable and high-speed internet connections guarantees superior performance, reliability, security, and faster speeds.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Invest In WiFi Boosters Or Mesh Systems

WiFi boosters and mesh systems serve the purpose of expanding the range and augmenting the signal strength of your Wi-Fi network.

WiFi boosters broaden the coverage area of your Wi-Fi network, effectively reaching previously out-of-range areas. They amplify the signal strength, enhancing overall WiFi performance in regions with weak signals.

Mesh systems can cover extensive areas by employing multiple nodes that relay the WiFi signal throughout the network. In a mesh network, devices can seamlessly transition between nodes without encountering signal drops or disruptions.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Update Router Firmware

If you wish to guarantee peak performance and maintain robust security, keep your router’s firmware up to date.

Firmware updates frequently encompass bug fixes and performance enhancements that boost the router’s stability, reliability, and speed. By staying current with firmware updates, you can maximise your router’s overall performance and ensure a secure and dependable network environment.

Regularly updating your router’s firmware is vital as it addresses security vulnerabilities and offers patches to safeguard against potential threats.

Firmware updates also enable compatibility with new networking technologies or standards, ensuring your router stays updated with the latest advancements.

By prioritising firmware updates, you not only optimise your router’s performance but also enhance the security of your network, resulting in a safer and more efficient online experience.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Use A VPN With Acceleration Features

Certain Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers offer acceleration features that can boost broadband speed in rural areas. These features optimise network performance and counteract the challenges of long-distance connections and limited infrastructure in rural regions.

VPNs with acceleration capabilities commonly use data compression techniques, effectively decreasing the size of data packets transmitted across the network. As a result, this leads to accelerated transmission times and faster data transfer.

VPNs can enhance the overall speed and efficiency of the connection through data compression before its transmission over the internet. This advantage becomes particularly valuable in areas with limited bandwidth, enabling a more optimised utilisation of the available network resources.

How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas: Consider Alternative Internet Solutions

Here are the alternative solutions to broadband in rural areas:

Satellite Internet

When utilising satellite internet, your hub connects with a satellite above the Earth’s surface. This satellite facilitates the transfer of information as you send or receive data.

Satellite broadband can be a viable alternative in regions where 4G connectivity is weak or unreliable. It offers download speeds of around 20-30 Mbps, making it a practical choice for accessing the internet.

Fixed Wireless

By using directional antennas, it becomes possible to mitigate interference. At the same time, microwave links necessitate an unobstructed line of sight between two points, such as your property and a transmitter on another building or mast.

Fixed wireless technology, predominantly employing WiMAX as a standard, has gained significant traction. However, with the emergence of 5G, the focus of fixed wireless technology is gradually shifting towards embracing 5G as the primary technological solution.

Mobile Data Networks

Mobile data networks offer a distinct advantage compared to traditional VDSL/fibre broadband due to their utilisation of different infrastructures. Consequently, in the event of one network experiencing a failure, the other remains operational.

This presents an excellent backup plan option, and routers are readily available that can seamlessly transition between your primary internet connection and a backup mobile data connection.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) On How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas

1. How to increase my Internet speed in rural areas?

You can increase your internet speed in rural areas by using the following:
Fibre optic cables
4G mobile broadband
Satellite internet
Digital Subscriber Line
Fixed wireless internet
Starlink (a satellite internet service)

2. How do I fix slow rural internet?

You can fix slow rural internet in the following ways:
Go for wireless internet with a good mesh router
Identify wireless issue
Upgrade router equipment
Upgrade to 5g
Reposition your router
Check your bill
Don’t hit the reset button of the router.

3. How to get faster internet in rural areas of the UK?

In the UK, fibre broadband is widely preferred and used by nearly 90% of households due to its high-speed, dependability, and effectiveness. It is not just limited to urban areas but is also favoured by people residing in less populated regions.

Summary: How To Improve Broadband Speed In Rural Areas

Many rural residents need help with slow broadband speeds, which is frustrating and can impact day-to-day life. It can be challenging to obtain high-speed broadband in rural parts of the UK, with many locations still experiencing slow download speeds despite faster internet availability in urban areas.

With the above tips, getting the most out of your broadband connection can improve your speeds and online experience.

If you want to access local 3G, 4G, and 5G signals, using your phone as a WiFi hotspot can be helpful. One effective method is to switch to a 4G WiFi solution temporarily. You can also upgrade your WiFi router.

I hope this article on how to improve broadband speed in rural areas sounds helpful!

Mark Dalio

Mark is a tech-obsessed serial entrepreneur who also enjoys reading and writing. He has a strong urge to keep learning and talking about technology, which led him to become an author. Mark has co-founded two successful startups, one of which was acquired in 2018.