Lack of broadband coverage keeps rural areas in digital darkness

MANY rural areas are being kept in digital darkness by being deprived of access to broadband telecommunications.

More than 25% of the Republic — mostly rural dwellers — is without broadband, while 100% of the North is enabled, a conference on rural development heard yesterday.

“Many areas have little chance of getting broadband and government should step in where there is clear market failure,” said Dr Patricia O’Hara, policy manager with the Western Development Commission.