Different Internet Options for Rural and Urban Care Homes in the UK

Care homes, whether located in urban areas or quiet rural settings, require reliable and stable internet connectivity to ensure smooth day-to-day operations, maintain resident communication, and support advanced care technologies such as telecare systems. However, the challenges they face in achieving this can vary greatly depending on their location.

In rural parts of the UK, which includes a large volume of care homes, internet access often falls short compared to urban areas due to a range of factors. This gap poses significant challenges for rural care homes, which increasingly depend on strong and reliable internet connections to function efficiently.

Issues for rural homes:

1. Limited Infrastructure: Fibre optic broadband, the fastest and most reliable internet technology, is less prevalent in rural areas due to the high cost of installation and lower population (which can deem new installations less viable).

Urban areas are often prioritised as they offer a higher return on investment.

Aging Copper Lines: Many rural areas still rely on old copper-based ADSL connections, which are slower and less reliable than modern fibre networks. These will also become decommissioned when the 2027 digital switchover takes effect.

2. Long Distances from Exchanges

Broadband speeds decrease significantly with distance from the exchange or cabinet. In rural areas, care homes are often far from these infrastructure points, resulting in much slower and more unstable internet connections.

3. Geographical Barriers

Physical Obstacles: Hills, forests, and other natural barriers can obstruct signals for fixed wireless or mobile broadband, reducing the quality of service.

Remote Locations: The isolated nature of many rural care homes makes it harder for providers to lay cables or establish wireless networks.

4. Limited Mobile Coverage

Rural areas often experience weak or patchy mobile signal coverage, limiting access to 4G and 5G technologies. This affects care homes that rely on mobile broadband as a backup solution.

5. Fewer Providers and Competition

In rural areas, there are often fewer internet service providers (ISPs), resulting in limited choices and reduced competitive pressure to improve infrastructure or lower prices.

6. Government and Policy Challenges

Slow Rollout of Rural Programmes: While the UK government has initiatives to extend superfast broadband to rural areas, progress has been slow in reaching all remote locations.

Funding Gaps: The cost of installing infrastructure in rural areas is often subsidised, but funding may not cover all regions effectively.

7. Shared Bandwidth

In rural areas, shared bandwidth across multiple properties on the same network can lead to congestion and slower speeds, particularly during peak usage times.

 

The Impact on Rural Care Homes

• Operational Challenges: Slow or unreliable internet affects access to cloud-based management systems, video consultations, and digital health records.
• Resident Experience: Poor connectivity impacts residents’ ability to stay in touch with family or enjoy online activities, which can contribute to feelings of isolation.
• Staff Efficiency: Staff face delays in accessing vital resources or communicating with external healthcare providers.

Addressing the Challenge

Solutions like satellite broadband, wireless solutions, mobile broadband can help bridge the gap for rural care homes. With strategic planning and investment, homes can overcome connectivity challenges and provide the quality care their residents deserve and need.

Satellite Broadband

• Provides internet access even in the most remote locations.
• Speeds up to 1Gbps with modern solutions, though latency can be higher than fibre.
• Ideal for areas where other fibre connections are unavailable and not planned.

Wireless Fibre

• Internet delivered via radio signals from a local mast.
• Speeds depend on proximity to the transmitter, typically reaching up to 100Mbps.
• Suitable for rural care homes with clear line-of-sight to masts.

At Orbital Net we have designed and implemented our own wireless networks across the country to help businesses in rural areas.

Mobile Broadband (4G/5G)

4G: Widely available and capable of supporting many rural care homes.

5G: Emerging in rural areas, offering urban-level speeds where deployed.

 

Urban Care Homes

Urban areas benefit from well-developed infrastructure, allowing for a variety of high-speed internet options, with some more reliable than others.

1. Fibre Broadband (FTTP)

• FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises): Direct fibre connection offering ultra-fast speeds (up to 1Gbps). FTTP is Ideal for urban care homes with high bandwidth needs for applications like video conferencing and IoT devices.

1. Leased Lines
   • Dedicated high-speed internet connection with symmetrical upload/download speeds.
   • Guaranteed reliability and low latency, suitable for care homes running telemedicine or data-intensive applications
2. Mobile Broadband (5G/4G)
   • 5G: High-speed mobile connectivity with lower latency.
   • 4G: Reliable fallback in areas where 5G isn’t fully deployed.
   • Great for flexibility and as a backup solution in urban environments.

Key Considerations for Care Homes

• Reliability: Ensure a backup solution like mobile broadband or dual connectivity to avoid downtime.
• Bandwidth: High bandwidth is vital for smart technologies, video consultations, and staff needs.
• Scalability: Choose options that can grow with your care home’s requirements.
• Support: Opt for providers with quick resolution times and excellent customer service.

Choosing the right internet solution depends on your location, budget, and operational requirements. Providers like Orbital Net can help tailor connectivity solutions to suit the unique needs of both urban and rural care homes.

For further information, please visit our website www.orbital.net or contact us directly on 0330 324 4444/ solutions@orbital.net