Reliable broadband is now as essential to rural life as transport or healthcare. Ensuring communities across the countryside have fair access to fast, dependable internet is vital for local businesses, education, and social connections. The Countryside Alliance is proud to be leading the conversation on rural digital inclusion, convening speakers from Parliament and industry next month for an expert roundtable.
On Tuesday 16 December, the Alliance will host a Parliamentary roundtable on rural connectivity, kindly sponsored by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, Chair of the Labour Rural Research Group. This landmark event brings together rural MPs, policymakers, and industry experts to explore the challenges facing rural broadband and the innovative solutions now within reach.
Amazon Leo’s team will also speak to the role low-Earth orbit networks like theirs will play in delivering fast, reliable connectivity to underserved rural communities via satellite, and the role connectivity innovation will play in supporting businesses, education, and everyday life in the countryside.
Lord Herbert of South Downs, Chairman of the Countryside Alliance, will welcome participants, while Jenny Riddell-Carpenter will highlight the importance of digital access for rural constituents. The roundtable will include interactive discussions, giving MPs a chance to engage directly with industry, experts, and rural stakeholders about the future of connectivity.
Speakers include:
This event demonstrates the Countryside Alliance’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with innovative industry partners to ensure rural Britain is not left behind in the digital age. By bringing together government, communities, and companies like Amazon, the Alliance is helping to shape a future where every part of the countryside can thrive.