by In an era where businesses and households rely on the internet for everything from marketing to banking and shopping, the lack of adequate digital access can be a significant obstacle. And our recent research shows that many UK homes and businesses have been left behind in the digital age.
Both of our studies focused on a rural county in Wales, Ceredigion, where the lack of reliable digital infrastructure has exacerbated the impact of the pandemic on families and businesses. Poor digital accessibility and connectivity exacerbated the stress levels of families who already had to deal with home schooling and working from home.
Similarly, businesses have had to struggle with issues related to internet provision, the availability of effective digital infrastructure and digital competence when working and running businesses from home.
Our research involved two online surveys. One focused on households and the other on businesses and the self-employed between April and June 2021. The survey questions were designed to address the challenges and opportunities that have arisen from the pandemic.
A number of important themes emerged in the responses we received to both surveys. These were inadequate digital accessibility and connectivity, lack of digital skills and training opportunities and the cost of broadband and mobile access.
Family experiences
Our research showed that 12% of homes did not have enough digital equipment for their needs during the pandemic and 76% of these included children who were being educated at home. Schools and some workplaces provided equipment in some cases, but 18% of families had to borrow equipment.
Despite that ability to borrow, many homes found themselves juggling equipment between adults working at home and children learning online. Many students relied on small mobile devices to access lessons, while others did not have access to equipment such as printers.
These problems were compounded in rural and remote areas, where slow broadband speeds and lack of a reliable mobile signal were cited as the biggest issues. Other issues included the cost of broadband and mobile access, lack of digital skills or training opportunities to improve digital skills, poor customer service from broadband providers and issues with connectivity.
Business and self-employed experiences
The pandemic has presented similar challenges for businesses. The closure of non-essential businesses during the pandemic has led to a boom in e-commerce. Companies that could accept online sales were able to continue operating despite lockdowns and restrictions.
But businesses that were slow to adopt e-commerce or lacked the necessary infrastructure struggled to adapt. In fact, our research found that 47% of businesses experienced difficulties with digital access and connectivity during the pandemic. Other issues faced by businesses included:
• lack of reliable broadband or mobile phone (37%)
• slow broadband speed (29%)
• poor mobile signal (26%)
• lack of digital skills or access to training schemes (16%)
• cost of access (13%)
People working from home in rural settings also faced problems due to lack of digital infrastructure, poor connectivity and lack of digital skills.
Approaching the gap
In the future, an increased reliance on online work, education and public services, such as online health and welfare support, will further disadvantage those without adequate access to the internet. The digital divide is widening between those with higher incomes and those with lower incomes.
For example, higher-income families were more likely to have access to technology for homeschooling and remote work during the pandemic than those with lower incomes.
Location also often determines the gap in access to digital technology. Remote and sparsely populated areas often lack adequate broadband coverage and mobile signals. Closing this digital divide is critical to economic growth, social inclusion and access to essential services.
Read more: How teachers supported children and parents through COVID-19 school closures
To address the digital divide, the UK and devolved governments need to invest in digital infrastructure in rural areas to ensure that there is at least minimum quality coverage everywhere. Local authorities could introduce schemes to enable people to access cost-effective computing devices and internet access.
Increasing digital literacy and empowering businesses in rural areas is also vital. Improving digital skills training would better prepare future generations for the digital world.
In addition, businesses in rural areas need tailored support, such as funding for digital infrastructure upgrades, training opportunities and guidance on privacy and consumer protection, to enable their digital growth and sustainability.
This article from The Conversation is republished under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Aloysius Igboekwu is currently volunteering with the Childcare charity as a Trustee.
Neither Maria Plotnikova nor Sarah Lindop work for, consult with, own shares in, or receive funding from, any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations after their academic appointment.
